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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 247
a most beautiful view of the sea, the shore, the Marine Parade, and
the " Albion Hotel," and where, were I five-and-twenty say, with
nothing else to do, I would gladly pass a quarter of an hour talking
about " Glaucus, or the Wonders of the Deep " with the object of
my affections.
Here, amongst the labyrinth of piles, Brownie goes flouncing
along till she comes to a young couple who are looking at the view
just described. In order to view it better, the young man has laid
his hand, a pretty little hand, most delicately gloved, on the lady's
hand ; and Brownie comes up and nuzzles against her, and whines
and talks as much as to say, "Here's somebody," and the lady
says, "Down, Brownie, miss."
" It's no good, Agnes, that dog," says the gentleman (he has
very curly, not to say woolly, hair under his natty little hat). " I'll
give you a pug with a nose you can hang your hat on. I do know
of one now. My man Rummins knows of one. Do you like
pugs ?"
" I adore them," says the lady.
" I'll give you one, if I have to pay fifty pounds for it. And
they fetch a good figure, the real pugs do, I can tell you. Once in
London there was an exhibition of 'em, and _______ "
" Brownie, Brownie, down !" cries Agnes. The dog was jumping
at a gentleman, a tall gentleman with a red moustache and
beard, who advances through the chequered shade, under the ponderous
beams, over the translucent sea.
" Pray don't mind, Brownie won't hurt me," says a perfectly
well-known voice, the sound of which sends all the colour shuddering
out of Miss Agnes's pink cheeks.
" You see I gave my cousin this dog, Captain Woolcomb," says
the gentleman ; " and the little slut remembers me. Perhaps Miss
Twysden prefers the pug better."
"Sir!"
"If it has a nose you can hang your hat on, it must be a
very pretty dog, and I suppose you intend to hang your hat on it
a good deal."
"Oh, Philip!" says the lady; but an attack of that dreadful
coughing stops further utterance.