JOHN'S TOUR ABROAD. 37 



return, they had concluded not to make arrangements for 

 having dinner at home. It was eight o'clock when they 

 arrived, and, when they went into their sitting-room, the 

 housemaid went before them and lighted the candles which 

 stood on the table in the middle of the room. They were 

 two very tall candles, in two very tall candlesticks, so that 

 the flames of the candles were about two feet above the 

 table. 



John went to the sofa and sat down upon it, as if he 

 were glad to find a place where he could rest. 



" I'm tired," said he, " and yet I've an hour's work to do 

 before I go to bed." 



" How is that ?" asked Lawrence. 



" Why, I have a half hour more of study to do, and then 

 it will take me full half an hour to write about our visit to 

 the Tower in my journal. I must not let my journal get 

 behindhand." 



In order to explain John's remark that he had half an 

 hour more to study that evening, I must relate how it was 

 that he came to make this voyage to Europe with his 

 cousin. His cousin had just graduated at the scientific 

 school, and had formed a plan to go and spend some 

 months in Paris, in order to pursue still farther certain 

 branches of science for which there were great facilities in 

 that city, and also to visit and examine certain great engi- 

 neering works which had been constructed in England and 

 France. He was, in fact, educating himself to be an engi- 

 neer. 



John, when he heard of his cousin's design, felt a strong 

 desire to accompany him. He proposed the plan to his 

 mother. She was at first somewhat surprised at the prop- 

 osition, but, the more she thought of it, the more she was 

 pleased with the idea. She said that she would speak to 

 his father about it. 



