CHAPTER XIX.
"SHIPS THAT SPEAK EACH OTHER IN PASSING." MANY of the guests in the foreign quarter had made a start downwards into the plains; and the Kurhaus itself, though still well filled with visitors, was every week losing some of its invalids.

A few of the tables looked desolate, and some were not occupied at all, the lingerers having chosen, now that their party was broken up, to seek the refuge of another table.

So that many stragglers found their way to the English dining-board, each bringing with him his own national bad manners, and causing much annoyance to the Disagreeable Man, who was a true John Bull in his contempt of all foreigners.

The English table was, so he said, like England herself: the haven of other nation's offscourings.
There were several other signs, too, that the season was far advanced.
The food had fallen off in quality and quantity.

The invalids, some of them better and some of them worse, had become impatient.