onous in their similarity. The same
gilt-edged mirrors protected from the dust by green perforated paper;
the same jar of wax flowers, standing on a mat which is composed of
floral designs in Berlin wool--designs to which you can give any name
you like--"You pays your money and you takes your choice." They
represent anything, the whole concern hiding its modest head under a
glass case; the same shavings in the grate, with long trails of roses
gently slumbering on the top; yes, and the same voluble landlady, the
whole of whose private concerns you are in possession of five minutes
after you have taken the apartments.

There is the boarding-house, advertised as "Directly facing the sea;"
and when you have engaged your rooms, and arrive with all your
luggage, you find the establishment is at the far end of a side
street; and "Directly facing the sea" is interpreted by the fact that
by hanging half-way out of the sitting-room widow, and screwing your
head round violently to the left, you can see the place where that
watery monarch ought to be.

"A boarding-house is so much nicer than an hotel, because you get to
know the people so much easier," I heard a girl remark once. This is
my chief objection to a boarding-house. Because you are staying under
the same roof, all the inhabitants consider they have a right to
address you, and, what is more, they will not be repulsed, which, as
most of them by no means move in the best society, is not at all
palatable. The women you can tolerate, but the men are not to be
endured. You are always coming across them, too. On whatever drive,
excursion, or trip you take you invariably meet "boarding-houseites,"
who are only too ready to recognize you. You can never get away from
them; there is only the public drawing-room, and there they come in
and out, talking to you, interrupting you, or else causing your ears
to ache by their attempts at music.(?)

The meals are somewhat amusing, as you can watch all your
fellow-boarders without being disturbed. They cannot talk and eat at
the same time, and so philosophically devote all their energies to
their dinner.

There is the girl who scrapes up acquaintances with everybody. She has
had the good luck to be placed near a man, and the demure way in which
she prattles and smiles at him convinces you that she is trying to
make the best use of her time. Sometimes he is absent, and then the
smiles give way to the gloomiest expression. Finally, on th