MR. SPONGE'S SPOUTING TOUR. 



27 



man was " only handsome ; " and smiling mammas " egging them 

 on," who would look very different when they came to the horrid 

 £. s. d. And this mercantile expression leads us to the observa- 

 tion that we know nothing so dissimilar as a trading town and a 

 watering-place. In the one, all is bustle, hurry, and activity ; 

 in the other, people don't seem to know what to do to get through 

 the day. The city and west-end present somewhat of the contrast, 

 but not to the extent of manufacturing or sea-port towns and water- 

 ing-places. Bathing-places arc a shade better than watering- 

 places in the way of occupation, for people can sit staring at 

 the sea, counting the ships, or polishing their nails with a shell, 

 whereas, at watering-places, they have generally little to do hut 

 stare at and talk of each other, and mark the progress of the dav, 

 by alternately drinking at the wells, eating at the hotels, and 

 wandering between the library and the railway-station. The 

 ladies get on better, for where there are ladies there are always 

 line shops, and what between turning over the goods, and sweeping 

 the streets with their trains, making calls, and arranging partners 

 for balls, they get through their time very pleasantly ; but what 

 is " life " to them is often death to the men. 



CHAPTER VI. 



TO LAVERICK WELLS. 



HE flattering accounts 

 Mr. Sponge read in 

 the papers of the 

 distinguished company 

 assembled at Laverick 

 Wells, together with 

 details of the princely 

 magnificence of the 

 wealthy commoner, Mi'. 

 AVaffles, who appeared 

 to entertain all the 

 world at dinner after 

 each day's hunting, 

 made Mr. Sponge 

 think it would be a 

 very likely place to 

 suit him. Accordingly, 

 thither he despatched 

 Mr. Leather with the redoubtable horses by the road, intending 



LEATHER ON EF.CLES AND PAHVO. 



