302 THE WALKS ABROAD OF 



the tranquil and strengthening solace that is brought 

 by study. 



Then in turn the cottage and trees disappeared, 

 and Bene* ensconced himself in a corner and lulled 

 by the monotonous rumbling of the train fell asleep. 



At the time these lines are written nearly a year 

 has elapsed, and Uncle Bob is again making his pre- 

 parations for a return to Villers. He will find some 

 changes there. 



Father Lucas has gone to reside at Trouville. He 

 can there find better shelter for his boat, the Albatross, 

 and give it more attention. For the greater part of 

 the year he lives the life of a retired man, but during 

 the season of fine weather excursions to sea are a 

 source of considerable profit to him. 



The fishermen of Trouville hold him in great respect, 

 and when a difference of opinion arises between two 

 sailors, it is to the old patriarch that appeal is made. 

 His decisions are treated as final. 



So Father Lucas has become an authority. 



Franceschini, in recognition of the services he ren- 

 dered as non-commissioned officer in 1870, received, 

 when he had ceased to expect it (possibly Uncle Bob 

 may have known of it), a military decoration. Some- 

 times, when seated in the midst of his treasured collec- 

 tion, he gazes fixedly at the brilliant token displayed 

 on the wall, and believes that the sight is a sovereign 

 remedy for rheumatism and attacks of gout, from 

 which he sometimes suffers. 



