Here a pair of lovers met to quarrel and make up; there a dark-eyed nursery-maid had better eyes for Templars than her charge; on this hand an ancient spinster, with her lapdog in a string, regarded both enormities with scornful sidelong looks; on that a weazen old gentleman, ogling the nursery-maid, looked with like scorn upon the spinster, and wondered she didn't know she was no longer young.

Apart from all these, on the river's margin two or three couple of business-talkers walked slowly up and down in earnest conversation; and one young man sat thoughtfully on a bench, alone.
'Ned is amazingly patient!' said Mr Chester, glancing at this last-named person as he set down his teacup and plied the golden toothpick, 'immensely patient! He was sitting yonder when I began to dress, and has scarcely changed his posture since.

A most eccentric dog!' As he spoke, the figure rose, and came towards him with a rapid pace.
'Really, as if he had heard me,' said the father, resuming his newspaper with a yawn.

'Dear Ned!' Presently the room-door opened, and the young man entered; to whom his father gently waved his hand, and smiled.
'Are you at leisure for a little conversation, sir ?' said Edward.
'Surely, Ned.

I am always at leisure.