wait--
And the tall _garcon_, Andre, attends them in state.

At a separate table sits Monsieur Legros,
And behind him his poodle, Fidele, you must know,
Who can dance, he's so clever, and stand and on his head,
Or upon his nose balance a morsel of bread.
Mabel takes up some sugar to coax him, whilst Nell
Calls him to her--Fidele understands very well--
"Why! he must have learnt English, he knows what we say,"
Mabel cries, "See!--he begs in the cleverest way."

[Illustration]

Then to the Hotel on the quay they all went;
To remain till the morrow they all were content:
After so much fatigue Father thought it was best,
For the children were weary and needed the rest.
Pictured here is the room in that very Hotel,
Where so cosily rested Rose, Mabel, and Nell.

Mabel dreamed of the morrow--of buying French toys:
Rose remembered the steam-pipe, and dreamed of its noise.
Nellie's dreams were of home, but she woke from her trance
Full of joy, just to think they were _really_ in France.
Very early next morning, you see them all three
Looking out from their window that faces the sea.

[Illustration]

THE FIRST MORNING IN FRANCE.

Here they see a pretty sight,
Sunny sky and landscape bright:
Fishing-boats move up and down,
With their sails all red and brown.

Some to land are drawing near,
O'er the water still and clear,
Full of fish as they can be,
Caught last night in open sea.

On the pavement down below,
Fishwives hurry to and fro,
Calling out their fish to sell--
"What a noisy lot," says Nell,

"What a clap--clap--clap--they make
With their shoes each step they take.
Wooden shoes, I do declare,
And oh! what funny caps they wear!"

After breakfast all went out
To view the streets, and walk about
The ancient city-walls, so strong,
Where waved the English flag for long.

Toy shops too they went to see,
Spread with toys so temptingly:
Dolls of every kind were there,
With eyes that shut and real hair--

And, in a brightly-coloured row,
Doll-fisherfolk like these below.
Prices marked, as if to say,
"Come and buy us, quick, to-day!"

One for Mabel, one for Rose,
_Two_ for Bertie I suppose,
Father bought.--Then all once more
Set off travelling as before.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

To Rouen next they went, that very day,
And heard strange places called out by