Oneofthem——theonenexttothebarber-shop——hadacrossitsfrontanample，jig-sawedveranda，whereaforetime，nodoubt，thefatherofafamilyhadfannedhimselfwithapalm-leaffanonSundayafternoons，watchingthesurreysgoby，andwherehisdaughterlistenedtomandolinsandbadinageonstarlitevenings；
but，althoughyouthstillheldtheveranda，boththeyouthandtheverandawereindecay。Thefourorfiveyoungmenwholoungedtherethisafternoonwereofatypeknowntoshadypool-parlours。Hatsfoundnofavourwiththem；allofthemworecaps；andtheirtightclothes，apparentlyfromacommonsource，showedavivaciousfancyforobliquepockets，falsebelts，andEaster-eggcolourings。Anotherthingcommontothegroupwastheexpressionofeyeandmouth；andAlice，inthemidstofherotherthoughts，hadadistastefulthoughtaboutthis。
Theverandawaswithinadozenfeetofthesidewalk，andassheandherescortcamenearer，shetooknoteoftheyoungmen，herfacehardeningalittle，evenbeforeshesuspectedtheremightbearesemblancebetweenthemandanyonesheknew。Thensheobservedthateachoftheseloungersworenotfortheoccasion，butasofhabit，alookoffurtivelyamusedcontempt；themouthsmiledtoonesideasifnottodislodgeacigarette，whiletheeyeskeptlanguidlysuperior。AllatonceAlicewasremindedofWalter；andtheslightfrowncausedbythisideahadjustbeguntodarkenherforeheadwhenWalterhimselfsteppedoutoftheopendoorofthehouseandappearedupontheveranda。Uponhisheadwasanewstrawhat，andinhishandwasaMalaccastickwithanivorytop，forAlicehadfinallydecidedagainstitforherselfandhadgivenittohim。Hismoodwaslively:hetwirledthestickthroughhisfingerslikeadrum-major\'sbaton，andwhistledloudly。
Moreover，hewasindeedaccompanied。Withhimwasathingirlwhohadmadeaviolentblack-and-whiteposterofherself:blackdress，blackflimsyboa，blackstockings，whiteslippers，greatblackhatdownupontheblackeyes；andbeneaththehatacurveofcheekandchinmadewhiteaswhitewash，andinstrongbilateralmotionwithgum。
Theloungersontheverandawerefamiliarsofthepair；hailedthemwithcacklings；andonebegantosing，inavoicealltin: