482 A PEEP AT THE PARIS FLOWER MARKET 



without wishing to know the prices at which they were 

 sold, and these I found were anything but extravagant. 

 But I paid for my inquisitiveness. I was quickly beset 

 by the men en blouse before mentioned, who seemed to 

 take it for granted that I could not carry home my 

 purchases. It was in vain I declined their services "they 

 were sure Monsieur Anglais would not carry plants 

 through the streets of Paris ; and if he did not intend to 

 purchase he would not demand the price." Who could 

 answer such arguments, backed as they were by the 

 reiterated cries from the vendors, " Ce n'est pas cher, 

 monsieur, ce n'est pas cher." No, indeed, thought I, as 

 I gazed on a pot of Forget-me-Not offered for six sous, 

 and contrasted its soft and delicate tints with the sunburnt 

 countenances around, and the horny hands which upheld 

 it ; it is not dear ; yours is no overpaid occupation ; truly 

 thou fulfillest the commandment of thy Maker " In the 

 sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread." Having pur- 

 chased this simple plant, and handed it over to the man 

 en blouse, I was allowed to pursue my course unmolested, 

 my new acquaintance acting as my protector. 



One of the most striking features of the market was 

 the bouquets. I had noticed them on entering, but I now 

 caught sight of others, the flowers arranged with exquisite 

 taste, and which far surpassed all that I had previously 

 seen. These were lying at one corner of the market, 

 close to a heap of cut flowers, with which a flower-girl 

 was busily engaged. Bouquets were made with great 

 rapidity, and sold as rapidly as made. Retiring to a 

 respectful distance, sheltered by an acacia tree, I resolved 

 to watch the movements of the fair bouquetiere, and thus 

 obtain an insight into the difficult art of nosegay 

 making. 



Although slight variations were introduced, one gene- 

 ral principle seemed to regulate the whole. One of the 

 prettiest that was manufactured was round and flat, and 

 arranged in this manner The first act was to collect 



