ployed
in carrying up trunks and carpet bags to the top of it and stowing them
away there. In doing this they ascended and descended by means of a long
step ladder. The men took Mr. George's trunk and Rollo's and packed them
away with the rest. There were several persons who looked like
passengers standing near, waiting, apparently, for the diligence to be
ready.

Among them were two children, a girl and a boy, who seemed to be about
Rollo's age. They were plainly but neatly dressed. They were sitting on
a chest. The boy had a shawl over his arm, and the girl had a small
morocco travelling bag in her hand.

The girl looked a moment at Rollo as he came up the archway, and then
cast her eyes down again. Her eyes were blue, and they were large and
beautiful and full of meaning. There was a certain gentleness in the
expression of her countenance which led Rollo to think that she must be
a kindhearted and amiable girl. The boy looked at Rollo too, and
followed him some time with his eyes, gazing at him as he came up the
archway with a look of interest and curiosity.

It was not yet quite time for the diligence to set out. In fact, the
horses were not yet harnessed to it; and during the interval Rollo and
Mr. George stood by, watching the process of getting the coach ready for
the journey, and contrasting the appearance of the vehicle, and of the
men employed about it, and the arrangements which they were making, with
the corresponding particulars in the setting off of a stage coach as
they had witnessed it in America. While doing this Rollo walked about
the premises a little; and at length, finding himself near the two
children on the chest, he concluded to venture to accost the boy.

"Are you going in this diligence?" said he, speaking in French.

"Yes," replied the boy.

"So am I," said Rollo. "Can you speak English?"

"Yes," said the boy. He spoke the yes in English.

"Are you going to Berne?" asked Rollo.

"I don't know," said the boy.

The girl, who had been looking at Rollo during this conversation, here
spoke, and said that they _were_ going to Berne.

"We are going in that diligence," said she.

"So am I," said Rollo. "I have got a seat on the banquette."

"Yes," rejoined the boy. "I wished to have a seat on the banquette, so
that I could see; but the seats were all engaged before my father went
to the office; so we are going in the coupe; but I don't like it half so
well."

"Nor I," said the girl.