193 some haggling, for in those days there was no tariff, and then the traveller seated himself in one of the baskets, whilst Gracieuse or Marianette placed herself in the corresponding panier, taking with her a stone as balance if required ; and, away they started, the side baskets rising and falling with the motion of a boat in a chopping sea. Should, by any chance, the gentleman be of an amorous disposition, and attempt to steal his arm about the waist of Gracieuse, on the plea that he would fain steady himself, the girl would dexterously leap out of her basket. The balance would be disturbed, and her " fare " would be lodged in the sand or the mud under the belly of the horse. Consequently there were perils to be encountered both in mounting and en route. A certain number of persons did frequent Biarritz for the bathing, but the fame of the place was not wide-extended, till the Empress Eugenie " invented " it. My father vastly enjoyed the sea-bathing. He was an admirable swimmer. One day he resolved on striking out for a rock at a considerable distance from the shore, that was covered at high tide, and mentioned his intention at table d'hote. A stoutish English gentleman sitting near looked grave, and shook his head. His wife beside him gave a titter, which was promptly suppressed by an angry glance from her spouse. When dejeuner was over, this stout gentleman sidled up to my father outside the hotel, and said : " Don't." " Don't do what ? " asked my parent. " Don't swim out to that rock. It is a long distance from the beach, and when you reach it, you can't rest there. I did it once, and never again. I sat down on it to repose after the fatigue of the swim. I did not rest there one minute." His voice fell to a whisper. " It was covered with sea-urchins, echini, you understand, and I had a most uncomfortable swim back, bristling with their prickles, and found a difficulty in drawing on my trousers. When I did reach the hotel, I had to lie on a table, whilst my wife with tweezers pulled out the spines." A pause, and then in low, vibrating tones, he added : " Since then people call me * The Pincushion.' " We were given a drill-sergeant that winter, to teach us to hold ourselves erect, not to turn out our toes when walking, and to be
