The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-08
CHAPTER II.

The Mannerings lived in a house in
that district of Bloomsbury which has so
long meant everything that is respect
able, mediocre, and dull, at least to that
part of the world which inhabits farther
west. 1t is possible that, regarding from
the other side of the compass, Blooms
burg may be judged more Justly as a city
of well-sized and well-built houses, aired
and opened up by many spacious breath
ing places, set with stately trees. 1t is
from this point of view that it is regarded
by many persons of humble pretensions,
who find large rooms and broad streets
where in other districts they would only
have the restricted space of respectable
poverty, the weary little cOnventonality
of the suburban cottage, or the dingy
lodging house parlOrs of town.
Bloomsbury is very much town indeed,
surroundedron all sides by the roar of
London, but has something Of the air of
an individual place, town within a
town.
The pavements are hard, and so are the
houses, as in the best quarter of large,
provincial city. The squares have a look
of secfusiOn, of shady walks, and retired
leisure, which there is nothing to rival
either in Belgravia or Mayfair. 1t is, or
was-for it is many years since the pres
emit writer has passed over their broad
pavements, or stood under the large, be-
nignant and stately shadow of the trees
i'll Russell square, region apart, above
fashion, a sober heart and center of an
older and steadier London, such as is not
represented in the Row. and takes little
part in the rabhle and rout of fashion, the
devout town of earlier days.
do not mean to imply by this that the
Mannerings lived in Russell square, or
had any pretensions to be regarded
among the magnates of Bloomsbury; for
they were poor people, quite poor living
the Guietest life; not rich enough even to
have house of their own, mere dodgers
occupying second floor in a house which
was full of other dodgers, but where they
retained the Importance and dignity of
| having furnished their own rooms. The
house was situated at the corner of a street
! and thus gave them glimpse of the trees
of the square, a view over the gardens
as the landlady described it, which was
no small matter, especially from the alti-
tude of the second floor. The small fami-
ly consisted of a father and daughter
he middle-aged, a quiet, worn, and sub
! dued man, employed all day in the Brit
! iSh museum; and she a girl very young,
yet so much older than her years that she
| was the constant and almost only com
panion of her father, to whom Dora was
as his own soul, the sharer of all his
thoughts. as well as the only brightness
in his life.
She was but fifteen at the time when
/ this chapter of their history begins, a
! creature in short frOcks and long hair
slightly curling on her shoulders, taller,
/ if we may state such a contradiction in
words. than she was intended To be, or
/ turned out in her womauhood, with long
/ legs, long socks. long fingers, and some
/ thing of the look of q sOfU-eyed. timid, vet
! playlully daring colt flying up and down
/ stars as if she had wings ON her Shout
/ ders, yet walking very scdately by the
/ side of her father whenever they went
/ out together, almost more steady and Sc
/ rious than he.
/ Mir Mannering had disappearance of
/ being a man who had always done well,
/ vet never succeeded in life; a man with a
1 small income, ana no chance Of ever bet
/ tering himself, as people say, or advanc-
/ ing in the the little hierarchy Of the great
/ institution which he served meekly and
diligently in the background. none of its
/ promotions ever reaching him.
/ Scarcely any one, certainly none out of
/ that institution, knew that there had
/ been period in which this gentle and
modest life had almost been submerged
/ under The biJ,Crest want. and in which il
| had almost won the highest hOnors pos
sible to man of such pursuits. This
was an old story, and even Dora knew
/ little of it, He had done so much at that
forgotten and troubled time that had he
. been a rich man like Darwin, ANA able to
/ retire and work IN quiet the discoveries
he had made and the experiences he
. had attained, Robert Nauucriug's name
might have been placed in the rolls of
. fame as high as thatof his more fortunate
contemporary.