rather late; and after abundance of superfine discourse, all the
while retaining his hat and cane, made his profuse adieus, and
with repeated graceful bows proceeded to depart, after fashion of
courtiers from the Queen, and by so doing, opening a door at
random, with one hand placed behind, very effectually succeeded
in backing himself into a dark pantry, where be carefully shut
himself up, wondering there was no light in the entry. After
several strange noises as of a cat among the crockery, he
reappeared through the same door, looking uncommonly crestfallen,
and, with a deeply embarrassed air, requested my daughter to
designate at which of the nine he should find exit. When the
mischievous Anna told me the story, she said it was surprising
how unaffected and matter-of-fact the young gentleman's manner
was after his reappearance. He was more candid than ever, to be
sure; having inadvertently thrust his white kids into an open
drawer of Havana sugar, under the impression, probably, that
being what they call "a sweet fellow," his route might possibly
lie in that direction.

Another inconvenience resulting from the chimney is, the
bewilderment of a guest in gaining his chamber, many strange
doors lying between him and it. To direct him by finger-posts
would look rather queer; and just as queer in him to be knocking
at every door on his route, like London's city guest, the king,
at Temple-Bar.

Now, of all these things and many, many more, my family
continually complained. At last my wife came out with her
sweeping proposition--in toto to abolish the chimney.