always very angry, and told them that her child had not such a vulgar
name; at which many would laugh, and make a point of calling out "Jenny"
to Virginia whenever they passed and saw her at the door. When I was a
little more than four years old I would climb over the board, for I had
no pleasure at home. As I grew older I used to hasten down to the
landing-steps on the beach, where the new inn called the Trafalgar now
stands, and watch the tide as it receded, and pick up anything I could
find, such as bits of wood and oakum; and I would wonder at the ships
which lay in the stream, and the vessels sailing up and down. I would
sometimes remain out late to look at the moon and the lights on board of
the vessels passing; and then I would turn my eyes to the stars, and
repeat the lines which I had heard my mother teach little Virginia to
lisp:

"Pretty little twinkling star,
How I wonder what you are;
All above the earth so high,
Like a diamond in the sky;"

and when I did stay out late I was sure of having no supper, and very
often a good beating; and then Virginia would wake and cry, because my
mother beat me, for we were fond of each other. And my mother used to
take Virginia on her knee, and make her say her prayers every night; but
she never did so to me; and I used to hear what Virginia said, and then
go into a corner and repeat it to myself. I could not imagine why
Virginia should be taught to pray and that I should not.

[Illustration: FISHER'S ALLEY.--Marryat, Vol. X. p. 27.]

As I said before, my mother let lodgings, and kept the ground-floor