按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is unnecessary to observe that； as a hatter； he is in a cock's…
feather corps）； is resigned； and uncomplaining。 On a Saturday；
when he closes early and gets his Knickerbockers on； he is even
cheerful。 I am gratefully particular in this reference to him；
because he is my companion through many peaceful hours。
My hatter has a desk up certain steps behind his counter； enclosed
like the clerk's desk at Church。 I shut myself into this place of
seclusion； after breakfast； and meditate。 At such times； I observe
the young man loading an imaginary rifle with the greatest
precision； and maintaining a most galling and destructive fire upon
the national enemy。 I thank him publicly for his companionship and
his patriotism。
The simple character of my life； and the calm nature of the scenes
by which I am surrounded； occasion me to rise early。 I go forth in
my slippers； and promenade the pavement。 It is pastoral to feel
the freshness of the air in the uninhabited town； and to appreciate
the shepherdess character of the few milkwomen who purvey so little
milk that it would be worth nobody's while to adulterate it； if
anybody were left to undertake the task。 On the crowded sea…shore；
the great demand for milk； combined with the strong local
temptation of chalk； would betray itself in the lowered quality of
the article。 In Arcadian London I derive it from the cow。
The Arcadian simplicity of the metropolis altogether； and the
primitive ways into which it has fallen in this autumnal Golden
Age； make it entirely new to me。 Within a few hundred yards of my
retreat； is the house of a friend who maintains a most sumptuous
butler。 I never； until yesterday； saw that butler out of superfine
black broadcloth。 Until yesterday； I never saw him off duty； never
saw him （he is the best of butlers） with the appearance of having
any mind for anything but the glory of his master and his master's
friends。 Yesterday morning； walking in my slippers near the house
of which he is the prop and ornament … a house now a waste of
shutters … I encountered that butler； also in his slippers； and in
a shooting suit of one colour； and in a low…crowned straw…hat；
smoking an early cigar。 He felt that we had formerly met in
another state of existence； and that we were translated into a new
sphere。 Wisely and well； he passed me without recognition。 Under
his arm he carried the morning paper； and shortly afterwards I saw
him sitting on a rail in the pleasant open landscape of Regent…
street； perusing it at his ease under the ripening sun。
My landlord having taken his whole establishment to be salted down；
I am waited on by an elderly woman labouring under a chronic sniff；
who； at the shadowy hour of half…past nine o'clock of every
evening； gives admittance at the street door to a meagre and mouldy
old man whom I have never yet seen detached from a flat pint of
beer in a pewter pot。 The meagre and mouldy old man is her
husband； and the pair have a dejected consciousness that they are
not justified in appearing on the surface of the earth。 They come
out of some hole when London empties itself； and go in again when
it fills。 I saw them arrive on the evening when I myself took
possession； and they arrived with the flat pint of beer； and their
bed in a bundle。 The old man is a weak old man； and appeared to me
to get the bed down the kitchen stairs by tumbling down with and
upon it。 They make their bed in the lowest and remotest corner of
the basement； and they smell of bed； and have no possession but
bed： unless it be （which I rather infer from an under…current of
flavour in them） cheese。 I know their name； through the chance of
having called the wife's attention； at half…past nine on the second
evening of our acquaintance； to the circumstance of there being
some one at the house door； when she apologetically explained；
'It's only Mr。 Klem。' What becomes of Mr。 Klem all day； or when he
goes out； or why； is a mystery I cannot penetrate； but at half…past
nine he never fails to turn up on the door…step with the flat pint
of beer。 And the pint of beer； flat as it is； is so much more
important than himself； that it always seems to my fancy as if it
had found him drivelling in the street and had humanely brought him
home。 In making his way below； Mr。 Klem never goes down the middle
of the passage； like another Christian； but shuffles against the
wall as if entreating me to take notice that he is occupying as
little space as possible in the house； and whenever I come upon him
face to face； he backs from me in fascinated confusion。 The most
extraordinary circumstance I have traced in connexion with this
aged couple； is； that there is a Miss Klem； their daughter；
apparently ten years older than either of them； who has also a bed
and smells of it； and carries it about the earth at dusk and hides
it in deserted houses。 I came into this piece of knowledge through
Mrs。 Klem's beseeching me to sanction the sheltering of Miss Klem
under that roof for a single night； 'between her takin' care of the
upper part in Pall Mall which the family of his back； and a 'ouse
in Serjameses…street； which the family of leaves towng ter…morrer。'
I gave my gracious consent （having nothing that I know of to do
with it）； and in the shadowy hours Miss Klem became perceptible on
the door…step； wrestling with a bed in a bundle。 Where she made it
up for the night I cannot positively state； but； I think； in a
sink。 I know that with the instinct of a reptile or an insect； she
stowed it and herself away in deep obscurity。 In the Klem family；
I have noticed another remarkable gift of nature； and that is a
power they possess of converting everything into flue。 Such broken
victuals as they take by stealth； appear （whatever the nature of
the viands） invariably to generate flue； and even the nightly pint
of beer； instead of assimilating naturally； strikes me as breaking
out in that form； equally on the shabby gown of Mrs。 Klem； and the
threadbare coat of her husband。
Mrs。 Klem has no idea of my name … as to Mr。 Klem he has no idea of
anything … and only knows me as her good gentleman。 Thus； if
doubtful whether I am in my room or no； Mrs。 Klem taps at the door
and says； 'Is my good gentleman here？' Or； if a messenger desiring
to see me were consistent with my solitude； she would show him in
with 'Here is my good gentleman。' I find this to be a generic
custom。 For； I meant to have observed before now； that in its
Arcadian time all my part of London is indistinctly pervaded by the
Klem species。 They creep about with beds； and go to bed in miles
of deserted houses。 They hold no companionship except that
sometimes； after dark； two of them will emerge from opposite
houses； and meet in the middle of the road as on neutral ground； or
will peep from adjoining houses over an interposing barrier of area
railings； and compare a few reserved mistrustful notes respecting
their good ladies or good gentlemen。 This I have discovered in the
course of various solitary rambles I have taken Northward from my
retirement； along the awful perspectives of Wimpole…street； Harley…
street； and similar frowning regions。 Their effect would be
scarcely distinguishable from that of the primeval forests； but for
the Klem stragglers； these may be dimly observed； when the heavy
shadows fall； flitting to and fro； putting up the door…chain；
taking in the pint of beer； lowering like phantoms at the dark
parlour windows； or secretly consorting underground with the dust…
bin and the water…cistern。
In the Burlington Arcade； I observe； with peculiar pleasure； a
primitive state of manners to have superseded the baneful
influences of ultra civilisation。 Nothing can surpass the
innocence of the ladies' shoe…shops； the artificial…flower
repositories； and the head…dress depots。 They are in strange hands
at this time of year … hands of unaccustomed persons； who are
imperfectly acquainted with the prices of the goods； and
contemplate them with unsophisticated delight and wonder。 The
children of these virtuous people exchange familiarities in the
Arcade； and temper the asperity of the two tall beadles。 Their
youthful prattle blends in an unwonted manner with the harmonious
shade of the scene； and the general effect is； as of the voices of
birds in a grove。 In this happy restoration of the golden time； it
has been my privilege even to see the bigger beadle's wife。 She
brought him his dinner in a basin； and he ate it in his arm…chair；
and afterwards fell asleep like a satiated child。 At Mr。
Truefitt's； the excellent hairdresser's； they are learning French
to beguile the time； and even the few solitaries left on guard at
Mr。 Atkinson's； the perfumer's round the corner （generally the most
inexorable gentleman in London； and the most scornful of three…and…
sixpence）； condescend a little； as they drowsily bide or recall
t