Our Little French Cousin

ambled over the decks of several barges, and

s were outlined with golden globes and festoons of tiny lamps of red, white, and blue. Wreaths of lights, in the shape of flowers of all colours, made innumerabl

s, and quays. Our little Les Andelys party did not attempt to stem the torrent. "We will just drift along,

white caps, kerchiefs, and short skirts. There were Breton fisherfolk and dark-skinned people from the far south; s

a long string, without which no French fête is complete. On the sidewalk in front of the cafés, people were sitting at small tables sipping their coffee and the numberless sweet drinks of which the French are so fond, while at e

blue uniform and soldier-cap, a short sword by his side, and a ca

r throng who were watching a gaily dressed crowd of people

sked Uncle Daboll

atre, where every one is expected to dre

s are wearing those funny tall head-dresses

s about her neck, and she wore a square-necked cloth bodice neatly laced in front, with sleeves to the elbow; underneath this was a white chemisette, as it is called. Around the neck and sleeves of the bodice were bands of

in bright colours, a short round jacket with gold buttons, a high white collar with a big red silk handkerchie

tty face, bright rosy cheeks, and soft blue eyes; her waving, brown hair fell loosely about her shoulders, and across her white dress was draped a small silk flag which Germaine recognized as the British flag, known as the "Union Jack." She wore a wreath of red ros

Germaine's feet. "Oh, papa, I have lost my flowers," she cried. Meanwhile Germaine quickly picked them up, and handed them back

back and waving her hand. Germaine did not understan

rtled cry she realized that only strange faces were about her, and she stood motionless with fright. Her terror was fortunately short-lived, for through the crowd she saw Un

und the city leave fiery streaks and showers of shining stars on the blackness of the summer sky, that Germaine h

d to one of the parties of English visitors w

sightseeing, all of which had to be crowded into the morning, as the afternoon was to be given

liant colours men in unfamiliar dress, tumbling into the water and being f

we see first?" a

n, "and then let's climb the

eanne d'Arc had been put to death;

aid Marie. "This street is named after her, and l

the Tower of Jeanne d'Arc, where the poor girl was imprisoned during her moc

d there was the great clock, built in a t

alais de Justice, with its big dormer

marks the spot where poor Jeanne bravely met her terrible death by fire. All about the place the market people were peddling their wares, bargaining and cal

have walls of glass, and its curious Portal of the Marmosets, all over which are carved little animals which look like ferrets. They passed the little church of St. Maclou, set like a gem i

mounted by a facsimile of the statue of William the Conqueror, the origina

obscure little village, but who in time sailed across what is now known as the English C

were glad to enter and rest awhile within t

oine and dropped two sous in the box a

re, the rest of the party were taken by the "suisse

old lace, a big three-cornered hat covered with gold braid, white silk s

small fee, to show visitors the chapels and

n all that he pointed out to them, he unbent, and when he showed Germaine the spot where was buried the heart of King Richard, and she told

t from the dark church into the square blazing with sunlight, and full of booths

y, and how the people looked like tiny black dots far below; and how, when coming down, he got a bit dizzy, and his father made him shut his eyes and

nd out that they were very hungry. Uncle Daboll laughed, and

nd something," he said, and led the way down t

d Marie, "let us stop and buy

while we are having our coffee at a café we can write them and send the

near the river. On one side was a modest little hotel called the "Three Merchants." Going up an outside s

rkets. Some of these farmers were now sitting at the table with blue or black blouses over their broadcloth

ntry parish to see the fêtes. There was also a solitary bicyclist whose costume betrayed the fact that he was a Frenchman, for no other bicyclists in the world get themselves up in so juvenile a manner as do the

little boy's dress in

lite and universal French custom when entering and leaving a

assed out into the crowded streets again, when the

little while," cried uncle

with the green shrubs in boxes before it. We will have our coffee there w

his uncle and aunt the great spire up which he had climbed; Marie sent several showing the decorations in the streets to vari

y was hurrying toward the r

leeve, "look, there is my 'little girl of the roses,'

ement as she saw the little girl recogn

now English, and I can't speak French, except to say merci and bon jour and bon soir, so how can we talk to each other?" Then she stopped and laughed, and Germaine laughed, too, an

they fell from the carriage last night. You know my special programme

was the daughter of the mayor of the English town of Hastings, and he had been invited to represent England at the fêtes, for it was at Has

ery proud of it, and the English cousins from Hastings were

gave it to Germaine. When Ethel's papa heard where Germaine lived, he said he had been to Les Andelys, he had stayed at the Belle étoile,

is known to Germaine, the little girls shook

The crew of one had a white costume with red sashes and red caps-the other was in similar dress, except

t; opposite was a "Blue" in the same position. At a given signal, the boats came to

cap with great enthusiasm. Suddenly "Red" gave a stronger push, and down went poor "Blue," head foremost in the water. However, he did not seem to mind it, as he sat dripping in the rescue boat. Jean felt rather badly over the fall of his hero, but another man took his place, and this time