TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 229 



self. He hears the country people talk, and amuses 

 himself by imitating them. It is because of this that 

 hesitating expressions such as, ' Well ! ' < Perhaps so ! ' 

 and ' Must see ! ' are his favourite phrases. On the 

 other hand, I never recollect hearing him say ' Yes ' 

 or ' No,' these words being very little used in Nor- 

 mandy." 



They rose from table and entered the room in 

 which the keeper had arranged his museum, as he 

 called it. 



The furnishings were of military simplicity : a desk 

 made of deal, covered with papers and books, three 

 chairs, and the arms and accoutrements of the soldier's 

 military period, arranged as a sort of trophy between 

 the white muslin curtains of the two windows. The 

 rest of the apartment was devoted to the birds. 

 These were to be seen in all directions on the desk, 

 on shelves, under glass shades. The beams of the 

 ceiling served as supports for some scutcheons of 

 varnished wood, bearing branches of trees, on which 

 were placed the larger birds, with spread-out wings, 

 as if about to take flight. 



" We must proceed in due order," said Leon; and 

 turning to Kene*, "You were just saying that we 

 ought not to despise you. Let us see, then ; how 

 would you commence ? " 



" I should begin by leaving all the respectable 

 kinds together, and by putting in one corner all these 



