46 THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



To give up after half a century of efforts his 

 unceasing wanderings on the ocean, no more to leave 

 the dry land, was a trying change of habits for the 

 old sailor, and a sacrifice rather than a relief. 



The poor old man seemed already to foresee that 

 while his son would be afar off, and himself fixed at 

 home like a useless being, he should often feel a long- 

 ing for the sea, and would miss the waves with then- 

 spray striking his face and seasoning and hardening 

 his countenance. 



Again, and this not the least of his regrets, he 

 must give up seeing so frequently the numerous 

 descendants who loved to clamber on his knees, for 

 paid voyages cost much, and by a strange anomaly 

 there is no one in the world more stay-at-home than a 

 sailor compelled to give up seafaring. 



As soon as father Lucas was gone, the doctor made 

 his way to the railway station at Trouville, while the 

 young folks, following the advice of the fisherman, 

 went on board the Emily, stranded on the shore, to 

 obtain a supply of molluscs and crustaceans. 



When the doctor returned in the evening, the two 

 cousins were not a little surprised at hearing him 

 make a long dissertation on the subject of fishing- 

 boats, and at his explaining the differences between 

 " a tub " and " a plate," a clincher-built yawl and a 

 plain yawl, with the thoroughness of one to the 

 manner born. 



