84 Opposite Neighbours. 



I took a few turns in the Park, and just as I rapped at my own door, 

 I determined I would make no farther enquiries concerning the expected 

 family no, it would be infinitely more interesting to discover every 

 thing by my own penetration and ingenuity j it would be a nice em- 

 ployment for me, for I was dreadfully at a loss for something to do, and 

 would keep me from falling asleep. 



I began now to count the hours. I was afraid of stirring from the 

 window lest the strangers should escape my vigilance, and arrive un- 

 known to me. I even dined in my study, and here, by the way, I must 

 let the reader into a little secret. I had a large wire blind fixed on one of 

 my windows, behind which I could stand and direct my enquiries unseen 

 by any body, though few within range were unseen by me. 



A few days past slowly on. Muslin curtains were put up, not blinds, 

 fortunately for me, (I have a mortal antipathy to blinds to any windows 

 but my own), boxes of migniouette appeared in every window. A cart 

 from Colville's in the King's Road, filled with Persian lilacs, moss roses, 

 and heliotropes, unladed its sweets at the door. They had then a rural 

 taste ; country people perhaps ; and I sighed as I figured to myself a bevy 

 of plump rosy misses in pink and green, and one or two young squires 

 in green coats and top boots. The arrival, whatever it might be, must 

 be drawing very near nearer and nearer for a respectable looking 

 housekeeper made her appearance one morning at the window, who had 

 stolen a march on me j I never could make that out, for I had never 

 seen her arrive. Two or three maids also were flitting about, and a gen- 

 tleman out of livery appeared, now at the area, and now at the hall-door, 

 superintending the unpacking of a grand piano- forte from Broad wood's ; 

 then arrived a cart from Brecknell and Turner, wax-chandlers in the Hay- 

 market j and one from Fortnum and Mason's in Piccadilly, with divers 

 other carts and packages of minor consideration. Then came hackney- 

 coaches with servants and coloured paper boxes smart looking maids in 

 Leghorn bonnets and drab shawls, and footmen in dark green, and very 

 plain liveries. The family could not be far behind. At last, about four 

 o'clock, the fish arrived a turbot and two fine lobsters for sauce. I can 

 be on my oath it was not a brill, and fish was very dear that morning, 

 for I enquired j therefore that could not be for the servants ; Sir Charles 

 and family must be close at hand. 



I remained rooted to the window, and was soon rewarded for my patient 

 investigation, by hearing, at about six o'clock, a carriage driving rapidly up 

 the street from Park Lane. It was them actually. A green travelling 

 carriage, all over imperials, stopped at the door in good earnest, most beau- 

 tifully splashed with mud no arms only a bird for the crest ; four post 

 horses, and a maid and man servant in the rumble. My heart beat thick, my 

 yes strained in my head lest any one of the inmates of the carriage should 

 escape my vigilance. The hall doors were thrown open in an instant, and 

 the gentleman out of livery, with two of his colleagues, flew out to assist 

 the ladies to alight. First of all, a gentleman Sir Charles of course 

 made his appearance, tall, and very distinguished looking, dressed in a 

 brown frock coat, and dark fur travelling cap, and apparently about thirty 

 years of age. Next came a lady, who skipped out very lightly, and who 

 seemed rather in a hurry to see the new abode that was the sister. She 

 was thin, and very graceful, and wrapped in a white cachemere, with rather 

 a narrow border j her features were hidden from my view, as she wore 



