Year: 1869

try it, anxious, as l always have been, to
experience every sensation sanctioned by
morality and custom. Well, tried it
got up at half-past eight, walked to Ken.
sington Gardens, and soon met with the
advantage in the shape of young lady
who was not only exceedingly pretty
which l. the case with many English
women, but moreover exceedingly well
dressed, which is the case with very few
of them.


"The Goddess of Early Rising was
sitting on one of the benches reading a
book. She continued reading while was
passing, which l thought unkird; per
haps, however, it was only to show heI
eyelashes. 1t would have been more than
rude-it would have been absurd-for me
to have addressed her, as she was attended
by an evil spirit, whom l should have
supposed to be her companion, were it
not that she appeared to be treated with
consideration and kindness.


Il liked early rising so much the first
time, that / tried it a second, third, and
fourth, and met with the advantage in
the shape of the goddess on each Occa-
sion. AT all events, had not frightened
her from the particular ground over which
she appeared to preside; and knew that
she had noticed my presence there, from
certain Indications which passed between
herself and the evil spirit On my sp.
proach.


"On the fifth morning the goddess en-
tered the gardens alone, and l instantly
began thinking of the best form of prayer
to offer up to her when perceived that,
instead of pausing at the accustomed seat
she continued to walk for some distance
knew that she must have expected me
there at the usual time, and therefore that
| she could have no wish to avoid me; but
knowing also that any one addressing a
lady without having had the honor of an
introduction runs the risk of being mis-
taken for bagman, naturally hesitated a
little


eff the goddess wished to enter into
conversation with me, | was determined
she should have an opportunity of giving
me hint-the slightest in the world
would have been suflicient-that such pro-
ceeding would not be displeasing to her.
Accordingly walked behind her as close
| ly as could, and prayed that she would
drop either her handkerchief or her glove
if it had even been her parasol,
wouldn't have called her awkward-that |
might rush TO restore it, and commence a
conversation, of which l had an irresisti-
bic and ensnaring opening ready pre-
pared.


"I watched for the fall of one of these
objects as eagerly as the sportsman who is
expecting the rise of the game. But the
treasure did not come; perhaps she thought
| might keep it !; at all events she did not
give me the chance.


"What was l tc do? l could not have
the impudence to walk before the girl, and
drop my own handkerchief It would
have been rather too much in the sultan
style, and she could not have been ex-
pected to pick it up. / threw myself on
a bench for few minutes, and, upon
looking round, saw that the object of my
thoughts had reached the gate of the gar
dens which leads into Hyde Park. fol-
lowed her, and, upon looking back when
| was at some distance from the entrance,
perceived the evil spirit hurrying towards
it. | at once understood that she had
been expected there some time pre-
viously, and that it was by the merest acci-
dent, and one very unlikely to occur
again, that the goddess was at that moment
walking by herself


"My resolution was taken immediately
| would address her; but what was / to
| say? l might have said thought had
had the pleasure of meeting her at Mrs.
JohnsOn's, or that fancied she was . lady
l had been introduced to in Timbuctoo
but these modes of address were common
place Should l ask her boldly whether
she would have any objection to my
smoking cigar while she was in the park
The very levity ofthe question would have
| saved my vanity in case of a rebuff, but IT
also appeared somewhat disrespectful, and
| / th0rnfnra rQcn1un6 IN
over, | now saw that the chased goddess
was walking at pace the quickness OF
which was little flattering to me, and il
order to obtain any chance of converse
ton with her, / should have to run a con
siderable distance, and speak to her in a
series of gasps. My resolution was there
fore abandoned would not address her
at all for the present.


"Of course, however, / was not SO ignO-
rant of the first rudiments of the London
art of love as not to follow her home. She
lived close to the park, and, as she stopped
abruptly at her house, | had to pass the
very door. Out of sheer kindness to my
vanity, persuaded myself that she smiled
gracefully as she glanced at ME, although
it subsequently appeared that she had
done nothing of the kind.


"NOt beinga dramatic author, did not
dream of getting up Irritation with the
Diva's maid, and paying her far large
sums than the postal regulations could re-
quire for transmitting letters to her mis-
stress 1T is process which does not al
ways succeed even on the stage-but
loitered about the house from day to day
and probably was mistaken by the po.
lice for burglar of superior attainments
until at last / ascertained the hour al
which my enchantress made regular
sally from her palace. ] followed her fol
some time as faithfully as her spaniel
indeed rather more sO-for the animal
once put himself completely in my power
and l was only prevented by the recent
act against dog -stealers from walking of
with the quadruped, and calling the mex
day for the reward, which, if had seen
the owner, would have been great indeed


Nothing came of all this, until one
!, day Florence Witon-whicb | had as
certained to be her name, and which ap
peared to be somewhat theatrical-was
observed by her ardent admirer to entel
a music shop in company with her evi
; spirit. On their leaving the shop, en-
tered it, and, finding they had been pur
chasing tickets tor a concert which was Il
take place that evening, l immediatell
bought one myself, and had to pay twic,
the ordinary charge, because Jenny Linc
was to appear there, as If she were TIT
person wished to see.


when the time for the concert arrived
luck and the box keeper placed me mex
to Florence, so close that l could hav
squeezed her hand if I had though