SEA-SIDE VISITORS. 31 



two volumes with him to the Parade. He finds the 

 place so dull that he must read even when in the open 

 air ; yet when at home he has not the reputation of a 

 severe student ; he is not known to read at his meals, 

 or bum the midnight oil ; he is rather a stupid young 

 gentleman, if the truth be told, and eyes us and our 

 jars with measureless contempt, wondering " what the 

 doose we can do, you know, with that sort of thing, 

 you know." Then, again, I should not call that lady 

 who scrutinises us gloomily through the blue veil of a 

 cavernous bonnet ; nor that severe and '' rather intel- 

 lectual-looking " lady with crimp curls, whom we pre- 

 sume to be a schoolmistress ; nor that grim gentleman, 

 who, we are sure, is a Methodist with an imperfect 

 liver ; nor those three sisters in their teens, " sent " to 

 the coast with their governess, — not one of these should 

 I call successful at the sea- side. Indeed, I meet with 

 very few successes. The children, of course, are ex- 

 cluded. Master Tommy, in gorgeous hat and feathers, 

 may " worrit " his maid by the persistence he displays 

 in " getting hisself wet ; " but the young rascal has got 

 a spade, and means to enjoy himself, and does what he 

 means. Another perfectly happy person amid all this 

 weariness is yon elderly gentleman, with large stomach, 

 white waistcoat, and a general sense of " well to do," 

 who has escaped from care for a few days ; who en- 

 joyed his dinner at the hotel yesterday, though the port 

 was fruity ; enjoyed his breakfast this morning ; and 

 now, having read the paper, is sniffing the breezes for 

 an appetite, and is aglow with the pleasant sensation 



