Grandmother Dear: A Book for Boys and Girls

wish that

es that a

LD'S

n for the benefit of their less experienced companions. They knew England, "of course," Ralph would say in his lordly, big-boy fashion, Scotland too, and Wales, and they

e rooms had been engaged for them, "remember you've promised not to awake me in th

Molly pathetically, for which all the satisfaction she received was a

another and seeing for the time being, through his or her spectacles. While Molly had not got further than opening wide her eyes, and not unfrequently her mouth too, Sylvia, practical in the way that only people of lively imagination c

us, which was taking them and their luggage from the station, for any one to see, and she thought to herself what a terrible disappointment it would be if, after all, this delightful, long-talked-of visit to Paris, were to turn out not delightful at all. And through Sylvia's honest little heart there darted a quick sting of pain and regret for her sharpness to Molly. How was it that she could not manage to keep the resolutions so often and so conscientiously made? H

"I was five and Molly only three and a half

r Molly's sleeve, and a

be cross or to

her own queer, happy, mudd

ed did come down, I'm sure I'd pull you out first, however sleepy I was. Only of course I know it w

was true. Molly was tall and well-grown for her age, while Sylvia was s

the growing would go into my mind for a little, though I wouldn't like to be

l chatterbox," growled Ralph from his cor

at the window beside him-or to join in Molly's screams of delight at the brilliance of the illumined shop windows,

er the stones, told of their arrival at their destination. And "O

-not a sham one like Ralph's-quite woke up at this, and told Molly it was the best sign in

em, turned out delicious. Never had they tasted such butter, such bread, such grilled chicken, and

rooms and settled who was to have which, and though neither Sylvia nor Molly had the

There's one at the head of your bed, Molly,"-Molly and Sylvia were to have two little beds in th

e shiver, and look

er," said aunty. "Remember all

ked rathe

unty, anxious to change the subject. "What shall

her. "What are your

ame," cr

vre," sa

don't care much for si

ial fancies of your own. So to-morrow I propose that we should go a drive in the morning, to give you a general idea of Paris, returning by Notre Dame. In the afternoon I

ures I want to go, but I do so want to see the room where poor

and Ralph burs

so fond of him, I should think you would r

t, and Molly flew

reat deal more history than you do-and about pictures, too. Of course we want to see the pictures, too. Th

rted Ralph. "It's Sylvia's lov

ors," replied Molly, m

Palace, and was going to strike one to look for the blood-stains on the floor? It was the only thing you

in tears; "whatever you think of girls, you make me, I am sorry to say, thi

touch w

said Ralph with unusual meekness;

e was r

ed out fine, d

perciliously, "where it always ra

g with aunty's reminder that even in Paris it did sometimes rain, and t

appointment the ne

would not let her go out in the damp, and there would be no fun in going to the Louvre without her. So, as what can't be cured must be endured, the chi

unty, "all the brighte

the Louvre," excla

as everybody did when they w

en-Sylvia especially-as they had all been very good the day before, but y

be with you

not a little old lady like me e

randmother?" exclaimed Sylvia and

ndmother. "It is ever so many y

little girls. "You know we are leaving on Tuesday, a

was se

g out of the carriage, "remember to keep close together. You h

ated Sylvia

echoed

t-seers, passing beside them into the palace, turned round to

ere is nothing, to people unaccustomed t

ad my way in and out of the people till I f

nk it would be much harder to lose us than you. For one thin

d out the other one as a pattern, and say, 'I want a match for this,'" said Sylvia la

so," said aunty. "Use your eyes, and let y

iful blue and orange" one of Molly's recollection. She nearly screamed with delight when she saw "how like it was to the one in papa's study,

ler rooms-a room in no way peculiar or remarkable as differing from the others-they suddenly

ey call it 'Salle Henri II.?' It should be called after Henry the Fourth; an

ng round with black and tap

had old tapestry," said Sylvia. "I should like

have not seen the 'Petite Galérie' yet-dear me, how many years it is

h cases of jewellery, leading again to one of the great staircases. Something in the vestibule attracted grandmother's attention, and she stopped for a moment. Sylvi

want to notice the shape of it exactly, and how many windows there are, and then I think I ca

s back in the room which had so curiously fasci

ng round her for a minute or two. "Now I must run after gr

expecting in another moment to see the familiar figures. The room into which she made her way was also filled with pictures, as had been the one through which she had ente

grandmother's warning was actually to be