before, was hardly to be termed grave, still less
sorrowful. There was a change, but it was that
kind of change only which may often be observed
from the frank impulsiveness of an intelligent
young lady, to the composure and self-possession
of that same young lady when she is either
betrothed or has recently become a matron.
She asked me whether I had made any attempt
at a likeness of her. I was obliged to confess
that I had not. She regretted it much, as she
wished one for her father. She had brought an
engraving (a portrait of Lady M. A.) with her
that she thought would assist me. It was like
the one she had asked my opinion upon at the
house in Lincolnshire. It had always been
considered very like her, and she would leave it
with me. Then (putting her hand impressively
on my arm) she added, "She really would be
most thankful and grateful to me if I would do
it" (and, if I recollect rightly, she added), "as
much depended on it." Seeing she was so much
in earnest, I took up my sketch-book, and by
the dim light that was still remaining began to
make a rapid pencil sketch of her. On observing
my doing so, however, instead of giving me
what assistance she was able, she turned away
under pretence of looking at the pictures around
the room, occasionally passing from one to
another so as to enable me to catch a momentary
glimpse of her features. In this manner I made
two hurried but rather expressive sketches of
her, which being all that the declining light
would allow me to do, I shut my book, and she
prepared to leave. This time, instead of the
usual "Good morning," she wished me an
impressively pronounced "Good-by," firmly holding
rather than shaking my hand while she said
it. I accompanied her to the door, outside of
which she seemed rather to fade into the darkness
than to pass through it. But I refer this
impression to my own fancy.

I immediately inquired of the servant why
she had not announced the visitor to me. She
stated that she was not aware there had been
one, and that any one who had entered must
have done so when she had left the street door
open about half an hour previously, while she
went across the road for a moment.

Soon after this occurred I had to fulfil an
engagement at a house near Bosworth field, in
Leicestershire. I left town on a Friday, having
sent some pictures, that were too large to take
with me, by the luggage train a week previously,
in order that they might be at the house
on my arrival, and occasion me no loss of time
in waiting for them. On getting to the house,
however, I found that they had not been heard
of, and on inquiring at the station, it was stated
that a case similar to the one I described had
passed through and gone on to Leicester, where
it probably still was. It being Friday, and past
the hour for the post, there was no possibility
of getting a letter to Leicester before Monday
morning, as the luggage office would be closed
there on the Sunday; consequently, I could in no
case expect the arrival of the pictures before
the succeeding Tuesday or Wednesday. The
loss of three days would be a serious one;
therefore, to avoid it, I suggested to my host
that I should leave immediately to transact
some business in South Staffordshire, as I should
be obliged to attend to it before my return to
town, and if I could see about it in the vacant
interval thus thrown upon my hands, it would
be saving me the same amount of time after my
visit to his house was concluded. This arrangement
meeting with his ready assent, I hastened
to the Atherstone station on the Trent Valley
Railway. By reference to Bradshaw, I found
that my route lay through L——, where I was
to change carriages, to S——, in Staffordshire.
I was just in time for the train that
would put me down at L—— at eight in
the evening, and a train was announced to
start from L—— for S—— at ten minutes
after eight, answering, as I concluded, to the
train in which I was about to travel. I therefore
saw no reason to doubt but that I should
get to my journey's end the same night; but on
my arriving at L—— I found my plans
entirely frustrated. The train arrived punctually,
and I got out intending to wait on the platform
for the arrival of the carriages for the other line.
I found, however, that though the two lines
crossed at L——, they did not communicate
with each other, the L—— station on the
Trent Valley line being on one side of the town,
and the L—— station on the South Staffordshire
line on the other. I also found that there
was not time to get to the other station so as
to catch the train the same evening; indeed,
the train had just that moment passed on a
lower level beneath my feet, and to get to the
other side of the town, where it would stop for
two minutes only, was out of the question.
There was, therefore, nothing for it but to put
up at the Swan Hotel for the night. I have an
especial dislike to passing an evening at an
hotel in a country town. Dinner at such places
I never take, as I had rather go without than
have such as I am likely to get. Books are
never to be had, the country newspapers do not
interest me. The Times I have spelt through on
my journey. The society I am likely to meet
have few ideas in common with myself. Under
such circumstances, I usually resort to a meat
tea to while away the time, and when that is
over, occupy myself in writing letters.

This was the first time I had been in L——,
and while waiting for the tea, it occurred
to me how, on two occasions within the past
six months, I had been on the point of coming
to that very place, at one time to execute a
small commission for an old acquaintance, resident
there, and another, to get the materials for
a picture I proposed painting of an incident in
the early life of Dr. Johnson. I should have
come on each of these occasions had not other
arrangements diverted my purpose and caused
me to postpone the journey indefinitely. The
thought, however, would occur to me, "How
strange! Here I am at L——, by no intention
of my own, though I have twice tried to get
here and been balked." When I had done tea,