296 THE GUERNSEY LILY. 



desperation looked out, in all their forms, from 

 windows, or rather window-frames, where the lit 

 tie glass that remained seemed but a receptacle 

 for all the filth that could accumulate upon it. 

 There is, at this day, in some of those streets, 

 what may be called an improvement, compared 

 with their aspect four years ago : but strong must 

 be the nerves, or most obdurate the feelings of him 

 who, even now, could pace those dreadful haunts 

 of misery and crime without a shuddering wish to 

 be again beyond their boundary. To me, the 

 scene was not new ; but I had rarely ventured far 

 into it ; and it was with a heavy depression of 

 spirits that I followed closely the steps of my con- 

 ductor, where two could not find space to walk 

 abreast. The state of the pavement, even in fine 

 weather, defies the most circumspect to escape 

 defilement from the mixture of every thing that 

 can render it unclean ; and the effect of a shower 

 is any thing but purifying in those regions. St. 

 Giles's enveloped in a drizzling mist immediately 



after B Square in the sunshine ! Who can 



describe it ? 



At length my friend paused, and to my no small 

 dismay, conducted me into what was evidently a 

 dram-shop of the lowest character. Before the 

 door were assembled some half-dozen of ragged 

 wild-looking young men, engaged in a gambling 

 speculation at pitch-and-toss, evidently with excited 



