fifty centimes as to decide conclusively whether he had ever
proposed such restitution. I knew her mental processes, so I
refused to carry any of her properties; besides, the pirate had
used a good many irregular verbs in his conversation, and upon due
reflection I was a trifle nervous about the true nature of the
bargain.

The Yverdon station fronted on a great open common dotted with a
few trees. There were a good many mothers and children sitting on
the benches, and a number of young lads playing ball. The town
itself is one of the quaintest, quietest, and sleepiest in
Switzerland. From 1803 to 1810 it was a place of pilgrimage for
philanthropists from all parts of Europe; for at that time
Pestalozzi was at the zenith of his fame, having under him one
hundred and sixty-five pupils from Europe and America, and thirty-
two adult teachers, who were learning his method.

But Yverdon has lost its former greatness now! Scarcely any
English travellers go there and still fewer Americans. We fancied
that there was nothing extraordinary in our appearance;
nevertheless a small crowd of children followed at our heels, and
the shopkeepers stood at their open doors and regarded us with
intense interest.

"No English spoken here, that is evident," said Salemina ruefully;
"but you have such a gift for languages you can take the command
to-day and make the blunders and bear the jeers of the public. You
must find out where the new Pestalozzi Monument is,--where the
Chateau is,--where the schools are, and whether visitors are
admitted,--whether there is a respectable hotel where we can get