"Sent to Siberia," suggested Mrs. Shuffles.
"Beaux are very well in their places," added Dr. Winstock; "and marriage seems to be a better remedy than banishment."
The driver of the drosky gathered up his petticoats and jumped off his box, when the party paused before his vehicle. He looked vastly more pleasant and amiable than a New York hackman, touched his hat, bowed, and smiled blandly, as he pointed insinuatingly at the carriage. At the same moment three more droskies rushed to the spot, the drivers intent upon obtaining a job. They talked, but of course none of the Americans could understand a word they said. The party intended to ride, and three of them were taken; but it was no easy matter for either of the ladies and her husband to crowd into the seat. Paul Kendall solved the difficulty in his own case by taking half of the driver's place. Lincoln and the doctor were better accommodated, and led the way, the latter pointing in the direction he wished to go. They went up a very broad street, with a green in the middle, like the Champs Elysées in Paris, in which there were well-kept avenues. On the walks were several neat stands for the sale of soda, which were attended by pretty girls, who seemed to be doing a good business. A ride up this street, and down another, with what they had seen before, nearly exhausted the town, which contains twenty-four thousand inhabitants, but is spread out over a large extent of country. All the streets were wide, some of them disagreeably wide, when any one wishes to cross to the opposite side.
Returning to the square, Dr. Winstock pointed down a street by the steamboat landing, which extended along the west shore of the bay. The driver understood him promptly, for this street led to the Botanical Gardens, which is a popular place of resort for the people. It was about a mile from the town, and on the arrival of the party a band was playing in front of a large building which contained a very handsome restaurant, sometimes used as a ball-room. The tourists entered this place, and seated themselves at one of the tables.
"What's the use of coming in here, when we can't speak a word of the lingo?" laughed Paul.
"I never go hungry for the want of language," replied the doctor, as a very polite waiter presented himself.
"Do you speak English?" he added to this man.
The waiter shook his head.
"Do you speak French?" asked the doctor in this language.
The attendant shook his head again.