Moore had his
own proposal to make.
"It seems so pleasant down there," said he, looking towards the wide
stretches of greensward and the promenade along the sea-wall, where the
people, just come out of church, were strolling to and fro; "every one
appears to be out--don't you think we should have a little walk before
going in?"
Honnor Cunyngham said nothing; it was her mother who at once and
good-naturedly assented; and when they had descended from the carriage
they forthwith made their way down to mix in this idle throng. It was
quite a bright and pleasant morning here--a stiff southwesterly breeze
blowing--a considerably heavy sea thundering in and springing with jets
of white spray into the air--the sunlight shining along the yellow
houses of Brunswick Terrace, where there were cheerful bits of green
here and there in the balconies. Then the crowd was rather more gayly
dressed than an English crowd usually is; for women allow themselves a
little more latitude in the way of color during the Brighton season, and
on such a morning there was ample excuse for a display of sunshades. And
was it merely a wish to breathe the fresh-blowing wind and to listen to
the hissing withdrawal and recurrent roar of the waves that had induced
Lionel to ask his two companions to join in this slow march up and down?
Young men have their little vanities and weaknesses, like other folk.
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