"and seem to enjoy it, to see how they swaller it down."
"Well, it seems a barbarous practice enough to us, but I daresay the natives think nothing of it," said Matthew.
"And don't victuals spring up as well as drink?" asked Coggan, twirling his eye.
"No—I own to a blot there in Bath—a true blot. God didn't provide 'em with victuals as well as drink, and 'twas a drawback I couldn't get over at all."
"Well, 'tis a curious place, to say the least,' observed Moon; "and it must be a curious people that live therein."
"Miss Everdene and the soldier were walking about together, you say?" said Gabriel, returning to the group.
"Ay, and she wore a beautiful gold-colour silk gown, trimmed with black lace, that would have stood alone without legs inside if required. 'Twas a very winsome sight; and her hair was brushed splendid. And when the sun shone upon the bright gown and his red coat—my! how handsome they looked. You could see 'em all the length of the street."
"And what then?" murmured Gabriel.
"And then I went into Griffin's to have my boots hobbed, and then I went to Riggs's batty-
