short a drive. I have made inquiries, and I find it is not the
custom, even in the best families. I am a stranger, yes, but I
always adopt the custom of the native families. I think it my duty
toward the natives."

"But I am a native, too, moi!" said the cabman, with an angry laugh.

"You seem to me to speak with a German accent," continued the lady.
"You are probably from Basel. A franc and a half is sufficient. I
see you have left behind the little red bag which I asked you to hold
between your knees; you will please to go back to the other house and
get it. Very well, if you are impolite I will make a complaint of
you to-morrow at the administration. Aurora, you will find a pencil
in the outer pocket of my embroidered satchel; please to write down
his number,--87; do you see it distinctly?--in case we should forget
it."

The young lady addressed as "Aurora"--a slight, fair girl, holding a
large parcel of umbrellas--stood at hand while this allocution went
forward, but she apparently gave no heed to it. She stood looking
about her, in a listless manner, at the front of the house, at the
corridor, at Celestine tucking up her apron in the doorway, at me as
I passed in amid the disseminated luggage; her mother's parsimonious
attitude seeming to produce in Miss Aurora neither sympathy nor
embarrassment. At dinner the two ladies were placed on the same side
of the table as myself, below Mrs. Ruck and her daughter, my own
position being on the right of Mr. Ruck. I had therefore little
observation of Mrs. Church--such I learned to be her name--but I
occasionally heard her soft, distinct voice.