Rollo in Paris | Page 9

he would like to go
before he decided the question. He would have considered this a mere
waste of time, for Rollo was always ready to go, no matter where.
So they got into the boat, and were rowed across the water. They
ascended the stairs on the other side, and walked a little way in a
smooth road which led along the bank. Rollo wished to go farther; but
Mr. George said that his time had expired, and that he must go back.
"But you may stay," said he to Rollo, "as long as you please, provided
that you come back before dark."
Rollo was much pleased with this permission, as he wished to go to the
top of the hill, at the outlet of the harbor, and look at the prospect. He
promised to return before dark.
"Have you any change," said Mr. George, "to pay your ferriage back?"
"No," said Rollo, "I have nothing but my five-franc pieces."
"Then I will lend you twopence," said Mr. George. "You can pay me

the first change you get in France."
"But I cannot get any pennies in France," said Rollo.
"True," said Mr. George; "you will get sous there. You must pay me
four sous. A penny is equal to two sous.
"I will pay your bill at the hotel, too," continued Mr. George, "as I
suppose they will make out yours and mine together, and you can pay
me your share to-morrow, when we land. Here is your ticket, however.
You must take charge of that."
"But suppose I lose it?" asked Rollo.
"Then you will have to pay over again," said Mr. George; "that is all.
You will lose about twenty francs; unless, indeed," he continued, "your
father should call it a casualty."
So Mr. George went back to the boat, and Rollo continued his walk,
thinking on the way of the question which his uncle had suggested,
whether his father would consider the loss of his ticket a casualty or not.
He determined, however, very resolutely, that he would not lose it; and
so he put it away safely in his wallet, and then went on. The road was
very smooth and pleasant to walk in, being bordered by green fields on
the one hand, and the water of the harbor on the other. Rollo came at
length to the hill. There were successive terraces, with houses built
upon them, on the sides of the hill, and paths leading to the summit.
Rollo had a fine view of the sea, and of the vessels and steamers which
were passing slowly in the offing, on their way up and down the
channel; but though he looked long and eagerly for the coast of France,
it was not to be seen.
Rollo rambled about the hill for a considerable time; for at that season
of the year the twilight continued very long, and it did not become dark
till quite late. When, at length, the shadows of the evening began to
shut in upon the landscape, he returned to the ferry, and the ferryman
rowed him back again to the hotel.

It was now nearly nine o'clock, and, of course, three hours remained
before the time of embarkation would arrive. Rollo was not sorry for
this, as he thought that there would be enough to amuse and occupy
him all this time on and around the pier. His first duty, however, was to
go and report himself to Mr. George as having returned from his walk.
This he did. He found his uncle very busy in his room, writing his
journal.
"Now, Rollo," said Mr. George, "it is three hours before we are to leave.
What are you going to do all that time?"
"O, I shall find plenty to amuse myself with," said Rollo.
"Very well," said Mr. George. "You may play about wherever you are
sure it is safe. Don't go near the edge of the pier, unless there is
somebody at hand to pull you out of the water with a boathook, if you
fall in. Amuse yourself as long as you can; and when you are tired of
taking care of yourself, come to me, and I will tell you what to do."
Rollo, having received these instructions, left his uncle to his work, and
went away. He descended the stairs, and went out upon the pier again,
and after amusing himself, by examining every thing there, he
concluded to go on board the steamer. A train of cars had arrived from
London while he and his uncle had been on the other side of the water,
and there were now several new passengers in the cabin, who were
choosing and marking their berths, or talking together about the
voyage.
Rollo thought that, in order to