, where she had picked up enough of the language to come and
go upon, and this knowledge now proved to be of very great advantage.

The calm weather which continued gave Zac many opportunities of
drifting away towards Margot, and talking with her, in which talks
they gradually grew to be better acquainted.

"I am so happy zat I spik Ingelis!" said Margot; "I nevar did sink
dat it was evare useful."

"An' pooty blamed lucky it's ben for me, too," said Zac, in a joyous
tone; "for as I don't know French, like Claude over there, I have to
trust to you to keep up the conversation."

"I not know mooch Ingelis," said Margot, "for I not understan de
mooch of what you say."

"O, you'll learn dreadful fast out here," said Zac.

"But I not weesh to stay here so long as to learn," said Margot.

"Not wish! Sho, now! Why, it's a better country than France."

"Than France--better!" cried Margot, lifting her hands and throwing
up her eyes in amazement. "France! Monsieur, France is a
heaven--mais--dees--dees--is different."

"Why, what's the matter with America?" said Zac.

"Amerique--eet ees all full of de sauvage--de Indian--de wild
men--an' wild beasts--an' desert."

"O, you ain't ben to Boston; that's clar," said Zac, mildly. "Jest
you wait till you see Boston; that's all."

"Boston! I nevare hear of Boston," said Margot, "till you tell me. I
do not believe eet it is more magnifique dan Paris."

"The most magnificent town in the hull world," said Zac, calmly. "You
take the House of Assembly an' Govement House--take King Street and
Queen Street, an' I'd like to know whar you'll find a better show any
whar on airth."

"Sais pas," said Margot; "nevare see Boston. Mais vous--you nevare
see Paris--so we are not able to compare."

"O, well, it's nat'ral enough for you," said Zac, with magnanimity,
"nat'ral enough for you, course, to like your own place
best--'twouldn't be nat'ral ef you didn't. All your friends live
thar, course. You were born thar, and I s'pose your pa an' ma may be
there now, anxiously expectin' to hear from you."

Zac put this in an interrogative way, for he wanted to know. But as
he said these words, the smiling face of Margot turned sad; she shook
her head, and said,--

"No; I have no one, no one!"

"What! no relatives!" said Zac, in a voice full of commiseration and
tender pity.

Margot shook her head.

"An' so you've got no father nor mother, an' you're a poor little
orphan girl!" said Za