I had neither kith nor kin in England, and was therefore as free as air -- or as free as an income of eleven shillings and sixpence a day will permit a man to be. Under such circumstances, I naturally gravitated to London, that great cesspool into which all the loungers and idlers of the Empire are irresistibly drained. What is the difference between lounger and idler here? same thing = lazy aimless people an idea is just a lazy person, who is often sitting around, doing nothing in particular. somebody could be an idler in their job - and prefer chatting and gossiping with colleagues than actually doing useful work ..