Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXLII. Vol. LV. April, 1844

the plaster pillars (which were of a very miscellaneous architecture) were two individuals

a plaster Apollo, in addition to watching the "arrow's deathful flight," had been appointed custodier of a Taglioni and a Mackintosh, which he wore with easy negligence over his head-a distracted Niobe, in the same manner, had undertaken the charge of a grey silk hat and a green umbrella. The Gladiator wore a lady's bonnet; the Farnese Hercu

iers and hungry mechanics, and half-starved paupers and whole-starved labourers; and turn, with feelings of a very different kind, to the contemplation of virtue rewarded, and modesty well fed, in the persons of the two meditative gentlemen whose appearance at the front door in Harley Street has given rise to these reflections. The elder of them, who kept the post of honour on the right hand s

, he continued-"I can't tell how it is, but I saw, when fi

endy's nor here-bed every night at ten

noes, which is only fit for babbies. Did ye think I meant Miss Hendy's, or low people of that kind, when I spo

ne. Is he in a gre

d wages when you gets 'em paid. A man can't be a gentleman a

entleman," ret

"-said the other-"reg'lar

whose intellect, being strictly limited to do

ay be rich; but he ain't genteel, Sn

ression, as if he waited for information-"What has Miss

on the piando, and talks Italian like a reg'lar Frenchman-nothing won't do-there's the boiled mutton and turnips-shocking wulgarity! Look again, I say, at our Sophiar's shoulders, and see how her head's set on. Spinks's Charlotte is a very different affa

young lady," replied the prosaic Mr

nd a lady's maid, the moment she got out of the cradle; and I say again she's nothing but roast fowl and blamange, or perhaps a breast slice of p

Snipe; "but I thinks not half so plump

re on the look-out for a partridge? No; I tell you all th

" replied Snipe; "no end of money, and a reg'lar tip-topper. I

a mighty sight better, and wouldn't ax any body to her table as had done nothing but write books or paint picters. No; old Pits is the boy for patronizing them there fellers; but mark ye, Snipe,

the gentleman in the shining garments looked down the street, as i

n his master, Mr Pitskiver, and a dish of boiled mutton and turnips, or between the beautiful young lady opposite and the breast of a pheasant; but that, to his finely constituted mind, those dishes shadowed forth the relative degrees in aristocracy which Mr Pitskiver and the young lady occupied. He had probably established some one super-eminent article of food as a high "ideal" to which to refer all other kinds of edibles-perhaps an

at for harriers, and goes out with the greyhounds twice a-week-a truly respectable member of society"-contin

d Snipe; "I thinks I never see no gentleman w

d with, instead of a brush-it's more like a field than a

e slackened his pace-passed the house slowly, looking up to the drawing-room window, evidently in hopes of seeing some object more attractive than the vast hydrangia which rose majestically out of a large flowerpot, and darkened all the lower panes.

home," said the Tick

t in the f

this note to Miss Sophia? I shall take an opportunity

ir, in

g, the Ticket walked hurriedly away, and Snipe stood with the

r a careful observation of every part of his dress, from the silk hat to the

with this here lett

o skittles. He's evidently enclosed the sovereign in the note; for he never could have been f

?" enquir

e letter. If you don't like to read it yourself, gi

n said he would s

it as soon as I can. What right has a dowdy like our Sophia to be getting billydoos from fellers as ought to be ashamed of the

a gold chain, check trowsers, and polished French leather boots, composed his attire. He wore an eyeglass though he was not short-sighted, and a beautifully inlaid riding-whip though he never rode. His white muslin pocket-handkerchief hung very prominently out of the breast pocket of his coat, and his hat was set a little on one side of his head, and rested with a coquettish air on the top of the left

aid Snipe, "I have a le

u had better give it her

n, sir, gav

ing the whip over the astonished Snipe. "What are you botheri

ir-books, and a c

e gives the first view to the Whalleys, I'll never speak to him again. Nothing else? Then

nd concluding at last that, in the mouth of his master, it meant nothing but a horsewhipping, he resolved, with the magnanimity of many other vir

earn pitch-and-toss, for you haven't brains enough for any thing else-and recollect, you owes me a sovereign; half from master for telling

Snipe once more emerged from the lower regions,

ree and twenty years of age, superbly dressed in flashy

you." And he looked as knowing as it was po

is it? Make

the Mercury, holding out the note. "He said something ab

cried Miss Sophia, and hurri

put you under the pump! She would have given you a guinea for the letter by way of postage. But it all comes of living with red herring