een even old men
deeply absorbed in the examination of each other's watches, with a view
to their exchange.--_Trans_.]

Tired, wearied, and thirsty, they continued their walk up the street
until they came into the motley stream of people who were wending their
way down to the piers, where the steamers were constantly coming in and
going out with passengers from and to the islands.

Here a difference of opinion arose.

Georgina thought there were so many people, and perhaps it was not
proper to go by the steamer, as it was beginning to grow late.

But Silla thought that they had swallowed dust in the streets long
enough, and that they must make use of the little time they had. Was
Georgina going home satisfied with the pleasure she had already had?

It was cool and airy sitting in the wind in the front of the boat and
resting themselves after the fruitless roaming in the heat.

They went on shore from the crowded steamboat to the island, where the
people gradually dispersed along the various shady walks.

Close to the way up from the pier, and commanding a view of the bay,
stood the great place of amusement, with all its gates invitingly open,
and the sound of dance-music floating out. Within was life and
merriment.

Silla stopped to look in and listen to the music, but Georgina, highly
scandalised, pulled her on.

Was that the place for a respectable girl to stop?

Silla followed slowly; there was inspiriting dance-music brightening all
the path within the wooden paling, and she drank it in with both ears,
while the rhythm rocked in her veins.

A little higher up, where the path turned off, she stopped again; she
could not leave the music, and scandalised Georgina by going right up to
the paling and trying to see in.

Georgina would leave her that very minute! She ought to have so much
respect for herself as not to stand there! _She_ had, at any rate, and
cared too much for her good name even to want to listen to such a noise,
and would go a long way round to avoid it.

She was extremely indignant.

Silla could really not comprehend how it could take the gloss off either
of them if they stood there a little and listened; nor yet what they had
come out for. Just where there was a little life and gaiety they were to
shut their eyes and put their fingers in their ears. But where it was so
"nice and proper" it had not been particularly amusing; and she would
give her a new sixpence if Georgina could tell he