The next day the tourists went on to Brussels, stopping a few hours only at Antwerp, which city was a surprise.  As Chester said, “I remember seeing such a place on the map, but I had no idea it was such a fine, large city.

They saw many wide streets lined with the most unique houses, many of them having “terraced gables” facing the street.

“This is certainly the town for fancy ‘gingerbread’ decorations,” commented Chester, as they observed the net-work of cornices and forest of pinnacles.  There was even a full-sized mounted charger on the topmost point of a seven-story building.  The Cathedral, with its tall sculptured tower, was no doubt an architectural marvel.  A brief visit was made to the art gallery, “full of Ruben’s fat women,” as Uncle Gilbert expressed it.

“‘Anvers,’” read the minister from a post-card.  “I thought this was Antwerp?”

“Antwerp is the English of it,” explained Uncle Gilbert.

“Well, I think names—­names of cities and countries, at least, should be the same in all languages.  At any rate, they could be spelled alike.  If this town is Anvers, why not call it that?”

Sunday evening brought the party to Brussels, or Bruxelles, in the original.  The life and gaity of the city were in full swing, and most of the shops were doing their usual business.  Uncle Gilbert did not want to remain long, but Lucy said she wished to visit the battle-field of Waterloo, and one or two points of interest in the city.  So the evening and the next day were consumed.  The battle-field is reached by train from the city.  From the Waterloo station, there is a mile or two of walking or riding in carriages to the immediate field of battle.  A great pyramid of earth covered with grass to its summit marks the spot where the conflict raged the fiercest.  From the top of this monument a fine view is had.  What was once a bloody battle-field was that day decked with growing fields, dotted with feeding kine.  Lucy had again to be denied the pleasure of the view from the top.  She sat in the wagon below and got what she could from the man who had been left with the horses.  It was all very interesting, but Lucy was so tired when they got back to the hotel that she could not see more of Brussels.

Next morning they went on to Paris.  All but Chester had been in this gay city before.  The weather was getting quite warm, so the two brothers did not care to follow the strenuous pace set by Chester in his sight seeing.  During the heat of the day they kept quietly within their rooms or strolled leisurely along the shaded boulevards.  Chester, by promising to take the utmost care of Lucy, was permitted to take her with him to visit some of the sights.  She knew enough French to make herself fairly well understood, and that was a great help.