himself in his kilt and its belongings, and when it was fairly dusk,
took his pipes under his arm, and set out for Portland Place. He
had the better hope of speedy success to his plan, that he fancied
he had read on his sister's lips, in the silent communication that
passed between her and her friend in the crowd, the words come and
tomorrow. It might have been the merest imagination, yet it was
something: how often have we not to be grateful for shadows! Up
and down the street he walked a long time, without seeing a sign
of life about the house. But at length the hall was lighted. Then
the door opened, and a servant rolled out a carpet over the wide
pavement, which the snow had left wet and miry--a signal for the
street children, ever on the outlook for sights, to gather. Before
the first carriage arrived, there was already a little crowd of
humble watchers and waiters about the gutter and curb stone. But
they were not destined to much amusement that evening, the visitors
amounting only to a small dinner party. Still they had the pleasure
of seeing a few grand ladies issue from their carriages, cross the
stage of their Epiphany, the pavement, and vanish in the paradise
of the shining hall, with its ascent of gorgeous stairs. No broken
steps, no missing balusters there! And they have the show all for
nothing! It is one of the perquisites of street service. What one
would give to see the shapes glide over the field of those camerae
obscurae, the hearts of the street Arabs! once to gaze on the
jewelled beauties through the eyes of those shocked haired girls!
I fancy they do not often begrudge them what they possess, except
perhaps when feature or hair or motion chances to remind them of
some one of their own people, and they feel wronged and indignant
that size should flaunt in such splendour, "when our Sally would
set off grand clothes so much better!" It is neither the wealth
nor the general consequence it confers that they envy, but, as I