friend missed the steamer in which they expected to have sailed for Spain, and were obliged to remain for a number of days beyond their appointed time. I do not think that either of them regretted this very much. I am sure one of them did not. My brother did not like my friend Pablo, thinking him proud and haughty; but this was merely a Castilian reserve of manner, and I thought it rather an attractive characteristic than otherwise.
At length our young Spaniards left us, and we began to plan our future movements. My brother was very anxious to go to the Continent immediately. He did not like the English climate or the English people, saying that they had always been our enemies, and that during the late war they had acted treacherously to both parties. The French, he contended, were the true friends of America, while their beautiful country was far better worth visiting than this damp, foggy England.
I had no great preference, being willing to go almost any where, and consequently, although there was much in England that I desired to see, acceded to my brother's wishes without hesitation, and consented to try France first, and to keep England in reserve, to, be explored after we had visited the Continent.
The Naval Depot at Cherbourg.
Crossing the Channel, we entered France at Cherbourg, the great naval depot. At this place were several vessels which had been negotiated for by the Confederates, and which, if they could have been obtained, would greatly have strengthened our little navy. Without stopping, however, to examine these, or other objects of interest, we speeded on to Paris, where we took rooms at the Grand Hotel.
We were more fortunate than Mark Twain represents himself to have been, and were not bothered with guides. My brother had been educated in Paris, while I had seen a little of it, and we both could speak French. My brother was well acquainted with the city, and he was anxious to show his wife and myself all that was worth seeing in it. We accordingly hired a handsome private livery, and prepared to enjoy ourselves in the best style.
The magnificence with which I was surrounded was in great contrast to what I had been accustomed to in America, and it was difficult for me to appreciate the fact that I, the elegantly attired woman, who was enjoying, or endeavoring to enjoy, the
