ed, wearily perambulating the streets of New York.

"Let's have some cake and coffee," Johnny proposed, as they were strolling
towards home. "I think French coffee is hard to beat."

"When I was your age," remarked Eric, "mamma almost decided to live in
Paris; but I am very glad she did not, for I think New York a great deal
nicer."

Johnny led the way to a cafe--that is, a coffee-house,--and here they
regaled themselves with rolls and delicious coffee.

Eric was shocked to see Johnny appropriate a couple of cakes and two lumps
of sugar, left over from their repast, and convey them to his pocket.

"Why, Johnny!" he exclaimed, in a tone of mortification.

"They all do so," said John, laughing. "A Frenchman thinks he has a right
to everything that he pays for. Watch the others."

Eric looked around and saw several Frenchmen, who had finished their
lunch, following John's example.

"Well," said he, "if I should do that at Millard's, how they _would_ all
stare!"

Johnny was quite pleased with his own importance in being able to show
Eric around the city, and proposed several places that they "ought to
see." But the afternoon was waning, and a damp, chilly breeze sprang up,
which Eric knew, from experience, was not at all good for the mumps. So he
very prudently hurried Johnny home, holding forth Froll's loneliness as an
additional inducement.

CHAPTER X.

STRASBOURG.

"Uncle John," said Eric, the next morning, "do you think of going through
Strasbourg, when we leave for Munich?"

"No," said his uncle; "I have business to attend to on another route."

"But, papa," expostulated Johnny, "we want to see the great clock in the
Strasbourg Cathedral."

"It will be impossible for me to go," Mr. Van Rasseulger said, very
decidedly; but seeing that both the boys were greatly disappointed, he
added, "If you could be a sober boy, Johnny, I might trust you alone with
Eric, and you might go to Switzerland by the Strasbourg route, meeting me
at Lucerne."

"By ourselves? O, how jolly!" Johnny exclaimed, turning a somersault upon
the floor.

"But the question is, my boy, _Can_ I trust you?"

"O, papa!"

"I will consider it, John. I can trust Eric, but your inclinations are apt
to be rather unsteady."

That was certainly true, for Johnny's inclination just then was, back
parallel with the floor, heels at a right angle with his head.

"But I think I will try you," continued his father. "I shall put you under