TWO YOUNG NATURALISTS. 301 



" The omnibus for the railway, sir ! " 



Have you ever noticed the effect produced by such 

 words, when it has become necessary to tear oneself 

 away from an agreeable sojourn ? The idea of depar- 

 ture has not been allowed to take possession of the 

 mind. If one has thought of it, a glance of the eyes at 

 the surroundings has assured us that the moment of 

 separation is not yet here. But the clock strikes, and 

 brings one to the stern reality. 



" The omnibus for the railway, sir ! " 



The luggage was again stowed away on the omnibus, 

 and Bene", who a few weeks before affected such a 

 complete nonchalance, and gaily mocked the scientific 

 tastes of his cousin, Kene* the giddy and incredulous 

 Parisian of the previous year, returned a last time to 

 the workroom at the moment of leaving the cottage as 

 if to say good bye to it. 



And when, having said adieu to Uncle Bob, he was 

 on the point of mounting the steps of the carriage that 

 was to take him back to Paris 



11 Thank you much ! " he said to Le*on, pressing his 

 hand with warmth. u You have taught me to observe, 

 you have shown me how one may in any place occupy 

 and train the intellect. Again I thank you." 



The train started, and the young man leant out so 

 that he might get one more glimpse, through the 

 trees, of the peaceful cottage where, instead of excit- 

 ing pleasures, he had found during his short vacation 



