; and then Mr. Percy Noakes took off his coat and rushed
backwards and forwards, doing nothing, but quite convinced he was
assisting everybody; and the steward's wife laughed till she cried, and
Mr. Percy Noakes panted with the violence of his exertions. And then the
bell at London-bridge wharf rang; and a Margate boat was just starting;
and a Gravesend boat was just starting, and people shouted, and porters
ran down the steps with luggage that would crush any men but porters; and
sloping boards, with bits of wood nailed on them, were placed between the
outside boat and the inside boat; and the passengers ran along them, and
looked like so many fowls coming out of an area; and then, the bell
ceased, and the boards were taken away, and the boats started, and the
whole scene was one of the most delightful bustle and confusion.

The time wore on; half-past eight o'clock arrived; the pastry-cook's men
went ashore; the dinner was completely laid out; and Mr. Percy Noakes
locked the principal cabin, and put the key in his pocket, in order that
it might be suddenly disclosed, in all its magnificence, to the eyes of
the astonished company. The band came on board, and so did the wine.

Ten minutes to nine, and the committee embarked in a body. There was Mr.
Hardy, in a blue jacket and waistcoat, white trousers, silk stockings,
and pumps--in full aquatic costume, with a straw hat on his head, and an
immense telescope under his arm; and there was the young gentleman with
the green spectacles, in nankeen inexplicables, with a ditto waistcoat
and bright buttons, like the pictures of Paul--not the saint, but he of
Virginia notoriety. The remainder of the committee, dressed in white
hats, light jackets, waistcoats, and trousers, looked something between
waiters and West India planters.

Nine o'clock struck, and the company arrived in shoals. Mr. Samuel
Briggs, Mrs. Briggs, and the Misses Briggs, made their appearance in a
smart private wherry. The three guitars, in their respective dark green
cases, were carefully stowed away in the bottom of the boat, accompanied
by two immense portfolios of music, which it would take at least a week's
incessant playing to get through. The Tauntons arrived at the same
moment with more music, and a lion--a gentleman with a bass voice and an
incipient red moustache. The colours of the Taunton party were pink;
those of the Briggses a light blue. The Tauntons had artificial flowers
in their bon