Volume Iii Part 52 (2/2)
My dear Lord, Yours very faithfully and obliged.
[Sidenote: The Hon. Mrs. Watson.]
BOULOGNE, _Wednesday, Sept. 21st, 1853._
MY DEAR MRS. WATSON,
The courier was unfortunately engaged. He offered to recommend another, but I had several applicants, and begged Mr. Wills to hold a grand review at the ”Household Words” office, and select the man who is to bring me down as his victim. I am extremely sorry the man you recommend was not to be had. I should have been so delighted to take him.
I am finis.h.i.+ng ”The Child's History,” and clearing the way through ”Household Words,” in general, before I go on my trip. I forget whether I told you that Mr. Egg the painter and Mr. Collins are going with me.
The other day I was in town. In case you should not have heard of the condition of that deserted village, I think it worth mentioning. All the streets of any note were unpaved, mountains high, and all the omnibuses were sliding down alleys, and looking into the upper windows of small houses. At eleven o'clock one morning I was positively _alone_ in Bond Street. I went to one of my tailors, and he was at Brighton. A s.m.u.tty-faced woman among some gorgeous regimentals, half finished, had not the least idea when he would be back. I went to another of my tailors, and he was in an upper room, with open windows and surrounded by mignonette boxes, playing the piano in the bosom of his family. I went to my hosier's, and two of the least presentable of ”the young men”
of that elegant establishment were playing at draughts in the back shop.
(Likewise I beheld a porter-pot hastily concealed under a Turkish dressing-gown of a golden pattern.) I then went wandering about to look for some ingenious portmanteau, and near the corner of St. James's Street saw a solitary being sitting in a trunk-shop, absorbed in a book which, on a close inspection, I found to be ”Bleak House.” I thought this looked well, and went in. And he really was more interested in seeing me, when he knew who I was, than any face I had seen in any house, every house I knew being occupied by painters, including my own.
I went to the Athenaeum that same night, to get my dinner, and it was shut up for repairs. I went home late, and had forgotten the key and was locked out.
Preparations were made here, about six weeks ago, to receive the Emperor, who is not come yet. Meanwhile our countrymen (deluded in the first excitement) go about staring at these arrangements, with a personal injury upon them which is most ridiculous. And they _will_ persist in speaking an unknown tongue to the French people, who _will_ speak English to them.
Kate and Georgina send their kindest loves. We are all quite well. Going to drop two small boys here, at school with a former Eton tutor highly recommended to me. Charley was heard of a day or two ago. He says his professor ”is very short-sighted, always in green spectacles, always drinking weak beer, always smoking a pipe, and always at work.” The last qualification seems to appear to Charley the most astonis.h.i.+ng one.
Ever, my dear Mrs. Watson, Most affectionately yours.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
HOTEL DE LA VILLA, MILAN, _Tuesday, Oct. 25th, 1853._
MY DEAR GEORGY,
I have walked to that extent in Switzerland (walked over the Simplon on Sunday, as an addition to the other feats) that one pair of the new strong shoes has gone to be mended this morning, and the other is in but a poor way; the snow having played the mischief with them.
On the Swiss side of the Simplon, we slept at the beastliest little town, in the wildest kind of house, where some fifty cats tumbled into the corridor outside our bedrooms all at once in the middle of the night--whether through the roof or not, I don't know; for it was dark when we got up--and made such a horrible and terrific noise that we started out of our beds in a panic. I strongly objected to opening the door lest they should get into the room and tear at us; but Edward opened his, and laid about him until he dispersed them. At Domo D'Ossola we had three immense bedrooms (Egg's bed twelve feet wide!), and a sala of imperceptible extent in the dim light of two candles and a wood fire; but were very well and very cheaply entertained. Here, we are, as you know, housed in the greatest comfort.
We continue to get on very well together. We really do admirably. I lose no opportunity of inculcating the lesson that it is of no use to be out of temper in travelling, and it is very seldom wanted for any of us. Egg is an excellent fellow, and full of good qualities; I am sure a generous and staunch man at heart, and a good and honourable nature.
I shall send Catherine from Genoa a list of the places where letters will find me. I shall hope to hear from you too, and shall be very glad indeed to do so. No more at present.
Ever most affectionately.
[Sidenote: Miss Hogarth.]
CROCE DI MALTA, GENOA, _Sat.u.r.day, Oct. 29th, 1853._
MY DEAREST GEORGY,
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