NOVEMBER. 279 



There was a walk in the centre of the square, and the plants were 

 arranged on either side to face the walk. The stalls, which were 

 principally kept by women, who were enjoying their morning's 

 repast of bread and fruit, were set out with order and neatness. 

 There were Oranges, Oleanders, Magnolias, Pomegranates, Roses, 

 Myrtles, Carnations, Balsams, Cockscombs, Tuberoses, Fuchsias, 

 Verbenas, Amaranths, Mignonette, Marigolds, Asters, and indeed 

 almost every plant of the season, mingled together in sweet and 

 inextricable confusion. The plants certainly were not large ; they 

 were rather close and compact, laden with blossoms, whose odours 

 rose on every air we breathed. Then the vast quantity of a sort, 

 each seemingly a counterpart of the rest, so nicely surrounded with 

 white paper, and placed so closely together, that the whole re- 

 minded one of a large flower-garden. I could not look on such 

 a variety of beautiful objects without wishing to know the prices 

 at which they were sold, and these I found were any thing but 

 extravagant. But I paid for my inquisitiveness. I was quickly 

 beset by the men en blouse before mentioned, who seemed to take 

 it for granted that / could not carry home my purchases. It was 

 in vain I declined their services, though " they were sure Mon- 

 sieur Anglais would not carry plants through the streets of Paris ; 

 and if he did not intend to purchase, he would not demand the 

 price." Who could answer such arguments, backed as they were by 

 reiterated cries from the vendors, " Ce n'est pas cher, Monsieur, ce 

 n'est pas cher." No, indeed, thought I, as I gazed on a pot of 

 Forget-me-not offered for six sous, and contrasted its soft and deli- 

 cate tints with the sunburnt countenances around, and the horny 

 hands which upheld it ; it is not dear ; yours is no overpaid occupa- 

 tion ; truly thou fulfillest the commandment of thy Maker : " In the 

 sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread." Having purchased this 

 simple plant, and handed it over to the man en blouse, I was allowed 

 to pursue my course unmolested, my new acquaintance acting as 

 protector. 



One of the most striking features of the market was the bouquets. 

 I had noticed them on entering ; but I now caught sight of others, 

 the flowers arranged with exquisite taste, and which far surpassed 

 all that I had previously seen. These were lying at one corner of 

 the market, close to a heap of cut flowers, with which a flower girl 

 was busily engaged. Bouquets were made with great rapidity, and 

 sold as rapidly as made. Retiring to a respectful distance, where it 

 was sheltered by an Acacia tree, I resolved to watch the movements 

 of the fair bouquctiere, and thus obtain an insight into the difficult 

 art of nosegay- making. Although slight variations were introduced, 

 one general principle seemed to regulate the whole. One of the 

 prettiest that was manufactured was round and flat, and arranged 

 in this manner : — the first act was to collect together a handful of 

 Red Roses — these formed the centre ; around them was placed a 

 narrow belt of Mignonette ; then a ring of White Carnations ; next 

 in order came a band of Purple Pansies ; Heliotrope succeeded, not 

 regular as the preceding, but scalloped ; then came a band of Pe- 



