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conviction that Pickford is wholly utilitarian and unimaginative； I
proceeded on my way。
It is a mercy I have not a red and green lamp and a night…bell at
my door； for in my very young days I was taken to so many lyings…in
that I wonder I escaped becoming a professional martyr to them in
after…life。 I suppose I had a very sympathetic nurse； with a large
circle of married acquaintance。 However that was； as I continued
my walk through Dullborough； I found many houses to be solely
associated in my mind with this particular interest。 At one little
greengrocer's shop； down certain steps from the street； I remember
to have waited on a lady who had had four children （I am afraid to
write five； though I fully believe it was five） at a birth。 This
meritorious woman held quite a reception in her room on the morning
when I was introduced there； and the sight of the house brought
vividly to my mind how the four （five） deceased young people lay；
side by side； on a clean cloth on a chest of drawers； reminding me
by a homely association； which I suspect their complexion to have
assisted； of pigs' feet as they are usually displayed at a neat
tripe…shop。 Hot candle was handed round on the occasion； and I
further remembered as I stood contemplating the greengrocer's； that
a subscription was entered into among the company； which became
extremely alarming to my consciousness of having pocket…money on my
person。 This fact being known to my conductress； whoever she was；
I was earnestly exhorted to contribute； but resolutely declined：
therein disgusting the company； who gave me to understand that I
must dismiss all expectations of going to Heaven。
How does it happen that when all else is change wherever one goes；
there yet seem； in every place； to be some few people who never
alter？ As the sight of the greengrocer's house recalled these
trivial incidents of long ago； the identical greengrocer appeared
on the steps； with his hands in his pockets； and leaning his
shoulder against the door…post； as my childish eyes had seen him
many a time； indeed； there was his old mark on the door…post yet；
as if his shadow had become a fixture there。 It was he himself； he
might formerly have been an old…looking young man； or he might now
be a young…looking old man； but there he was。 In walking along the
street； I had as yet looked in vain for a familiar face； or even a
transmitted face； here was the very greengrocer who had been
weighing and handling baskets on the morning of the reception。 As
he brought with him a dawning remembrance that he had had no
proprietary interest in those babies； I crossed the road； and
accosted him on the subject。 He was not in the least excited or
gratified； or in any way roused； by the accuracy of my
recollection； but said； Yes； summut out of the common … he didn't
remember how many it was （as if half…a…dozen babes either way made
no difference） … had happened to a Mrs。 What's…her…name； as once
lodged there … but he didn't call it to mind； particular。 Nettled
by this phlegmatic conduct； I informed him that I had left the town
when I was a child。 He slowly returned； quite unsoftened； and not
without a sarcastic kind of complacency； HAD I？ Ah！ And did I
find it had got on tolerably well without me？ Such is the
difference （I thought； when I had left him a few hundred yards
behind； and was by so much in a better temper） between going away
from a place and remaining in it。 I had no right； I reflected； to
be angry with the greengrocer for his want of interest； I was
nothing to him： whereas he was the town； the cathedral； the
bridge； the river； my childhood； and a large slice of my life； to
me。
Of course the town had shrunk fearfully； since I was a child there。
I had entertained the impression that the High…street was at least
as wide as Regent…street； London； or the Italian Boulevard at
Paris。 I found it little better than a lane。 There was a public
clock in it； which I had supposed to be the finest clock in the
world： whereas it now turned out to be as inexpressive； moon…
faced； and weak a clock as ever I saw。 It belonged to a Town Hall；
where I had seen an Indian （who I now suppose wasn't an Indian）
swallow a sword （which I now suppose he didn't）。 The edifice had
appeared to me in those days so glorious a structure； that I had
set it up in my mind as the model on which the Genie of the Lamp
built the palace for Aladdin。 A mean little brick heap； like a
demented chapel； with a few yawning persons in leather gaiters； and
in the last extremity for something to do； lounging at the door
with their hands in their pockets； and calling themselves a Corn
Exchange！
The Theatre was in existence； I found； on asking the fishmonger；
who had a compact show of stock in his window； consisting of a sole
and a quart of shrimps … and I resolved to comfort my mind by going
to look at it。 Richard the Third； in a very uncomfortable cloak；
had first appeared to me there； and had made my heart leap with
terror by backing up against the stage…box in which I was posted；
while struggling for life against the virtuous Richmond。 It was
within those walls that I had learnt as from a page of English
history； how that wicked King slept in war…time on a sofa much too
short for him； and how fearfully his conscience troubled his boots。
There； too； had I first seen the funny countryman； but countryman
of noble principles； in a flowered waistcoat； crunch up his little
hat and throw it on the ground； and pull off his coat； saying； 'Dom
thee； squire； coom on with thy fistes then！' At which the lovely
young woman who kept company with him （and who went out gleaning；
in a narrow white muslin apron with five beautiful bars of five
different…coloured ribbons across it） was so frightened for his
sake； that she fainted away。 Many wondrous secrets of Nature had I
come to the knowledge of in that sanctuary： of which not the least
terrific were； that the witches in Macbeth bore an awful
resemblance to the Thanes and other proper inhabitants of Scotland；
and that the good King Duncan couldn't rest in his grave； but was
constantly coming out of it and calling himself somebody else。 To
the Theatre； therefore； I repaired for consolation。 But I found
very little； for it was in a bad and declining way。 A dealer in
wine and bottled beer had already squeezed his trade into the box…
office； and the theatrical money was taken … when it came … in a
kind of meat…safe in the passage。 The dealer in wine and bottled
beer must have insinuated himself under the stage too； for he
announced that he had various descriptions of alcoholic drinks 'in
the wood；' and there was no possible stowage for the wood anywhere
else。 Evidently； he was by degrees eating the establishment away
to the core； and would soon have sole possession of it。 It was To
Let； and hopelessly so； for its old purposes； and there had been no
entertainment within its walls for a long time except a Panorama；
and even that had been announced as 'pleasingly instructive；' and I
know too well the fatal meaning and the leaden import of those
terrible expressions。 No； there was no comfort in the Theatre。 It
was mysteriously gone； like my own youth。 Unlike my own youth； it
might be coming back some day； but there was little promise of it。
As the town was placarded with references to the Dullborough
Mechanics' Institution； I thought I would go and look at that
establishment next。 There had been no such thing in the town； in
my young day； and it occurred to me that its extreme prosperity
might have brought adversity upon the Drama。 I found the
Institution with some difficulty； and should scarcely have known
that I had found it if I had judged from its external appearance
only； but this was attributable to its never having been finished；
and having no front： consequently； it led a modest and retired
existence up a stable…yard。 It was （as I learnt； on inquiry） a
most flourishing Institution； and of the highest benefit to the
town： two triumphs which I was glad to understand were not at all
impaired by the seeming drawbacks that no mechanics belonged to it；
and that it was steeped in debt to the chimney…pots。 It had a
large room； which was approached by an infirm step…ladder： the
builder having declined to construct the intended staircase；
without a present payment in cash； which Dullborough （though
profoundly appreciative of the Institution） seemed unaccountably
bashful about subscribing。 The large room had cost … or would；
when paid for … five hundred pounds； and it had more mortar in it
and more echoes； than one might have expected to get for the money。
It was fitted up with a platform； and the usual lecturing tools；
including a large black board of a menacing appearance。 On
referring to lists of the courses of lectures that had been given
in this thriving Hall； I fancied I detected a shyn