But One Morning, In Taking My Walk, I Chanced
Upon An Idyllic Spot:
The front of the whitewashed cottage
embowered in flowers, bird-cages built into these bowers, a little
notice saying 'Canaries for Sale,' and an English rose of a baby
sitting in the path stringing hollyhock buds.
There was no
apartment sign, but I walked in, ostensibly to buy some flowers. I
met Mrs. Bobby, loved her at first sight, the passion was
reciprocal, and I wheedled her into giving me her own sitting-room
and the bedroom above it. It only remained now for me to break my
projected change of residence to my present landlady, and this I
distinctly dreaded. Of course Mrs. Hobbs said, when I timidly
mentioned the subject, that she wished she had known I was leaving
an hour before, for she had just refused a lady and her husband,
most desirable persons, who looked as if they would be permanent.
Can it be that lodgers radiate the permanent or transitory quality,
quite unknown to themselves?
I was very much embarrassed, as she threatened to become tearful;
and as I was determined never to give up Mrs. Bobby, I said
desperately, "I must leave you, Mrs. Hobbs, I must indeed; but as
you seem to feel so badly about it, I'll go out and find you another
lodger in my place."
The fact is, I had seen, not long before, a lady going in and out of
houses, as I had done on the night of my arrival, and it occurred to
me that I might pursue her, and persuade her to take my place in
Holly House and buy the headless fowl. I walked for nearly an hour
before I was rewarded with a glimpse of my victim's grey dress
whisking round the corner of Pump Street. I approached, and, with a
smile that was intended to be a justification in itself, I explained
my somewhat unusual mission. She was rather unreceptive at first;
she thought evidently that I was to have a percentage on her, if I
succeeded in capturing her alive and delivering her to Mrs. Hobbs;
but she was very weary and discouraged, and finally fell in with my
plans. She accompanied me home, was introduced to Mrs. Hobbs, and
engaged my rooms from the following day. As she had a sister, she
promised to be a more lucrative incumbent than I; she enjoyed
ordering food in a raw state, did not care for views, and thought
purple clematis vines only a shelter for insects: so every one was
satisfied, and I most of all when I wrestled with Mrs. Hobb's
itemised bill for two nights and one day. Her weekly account must
be rolled on a cylinder, I should think, like the list of Don Juan's
amours, for the bill of my brief residence beneath her roof was
quite three feet in length, each of the following items being set
down every twenty-four hours:-
