54 



THE EXETER ROAD 



people ; nor, indeed, are the people at this time alto- 

 gether to be trusted. The lono- era of the Georges 

 did not breed loyalty, and for AVilliam the Fourth, 

 just dead, the people had an amused contempt. They 

 called him ' Silly Billy.' At this time, also, aristocracy 

 drew its skirts daintily from any possible contact with 



OLD KENSINGTON CHUKCH. 



the lower herd. Alas ! poor lower herd, and still 

 more, alas I for aristocracy. 



Our fellow-traveller in the Brentford stasfe has 

 a friend with him, and, as we jolt from Kensington 

 Gore into the High Street, points out the palace, 

 and tells how William the Third and Queen Mary 

 lived and died there, amid William's stolid Hol- 

 landers. He tells a story which he heard from his 

 grandfather, of how Dr. Radcliffe, called in to look 

 at the King's dropsical ankles, said, when asked 

 what he thought of them, ' Why, truly. I would not 



