"It will not seem much like Sunday to you in Rotterdam," said the vice-principal, as they landed at the quai.
"I supposed the Dutch were very strict."
"Some of them are. Look down that street," said Mr. Fluxion, as he pointed to the broad avenue which bordered the great river. "You observe that the quais are all lined with ships. In the houses opposite live the merchants. They occupy the upper stories of the buildings, while the lower are used as counting-rooms and storehouses. The ship-owner sits at his parlor window and witnesses the unlading of his vessel."
They walked up to the Hôtel des Pays-Bas, which the traveller is informed by its card is situated in the Korte Hoogstraat, wijk No. 287, where Mr. Fluxion desired to see a gentleman who had engaged to meet him there. In one of the public rooms a party were playing cards, drinking, and smoking, and talking Dutch in the most vehement manner. After a stay of an hour at the hotel, they returned to the quai, passing through Zandstraat, which was filled with people, shouting, singing, and skylarking. About every other shop appeared to be a drinking saloon, in which a fiddle or a hurdy-gurdy was making wild music, while the floor was crowded with men and women dancing.
In another street they encountered a mock procession of girls and boys, singing in the most stormy manner as they marched along. It was not at all like Sunday, and Paul was so shocked at the desecration of the day, that he was glad to regain the silence of his cabin in the Josephine.
CHAPTER XIX.
A RUN THROUGH HOLLAND.
Like that of all impulsive men, the wrath of Mr. Hamblin was short-lived, though he still felt that he was greatly abused, greatly distrusted, and greatly under-estimated; and the last was the greatest sin of all. After the first blast of his anger at the final decision of the principal had subsided, he was disposed to be more politic. Mr. Lowington had snubbed him, which was a great mistake on Mr. Lowington's part.
Mr. Hamblin knew that he was an older man than the principal, and he felt that he was a wiser one, and his employer ought to consult him, defer to his opinion, and take his advice. He did not do this to the extent the learned gentleman demanded; and the Academy Ship was the sufferer thereby, not himself. If Mr. Lowington could stand it, he could, disagreeable as it was. If Mr. Hamblin had been pecuniarily independent, he would have thrown up his situation, and visited the classic lands alone; but as he was not able to do this, he decided to submit to Mr. Lowington's caprices, and give the institution the benefit of his valuable services.