rise, my wife
joined in the cry; it was always from morn to night, "We might do this
but, we cannot do this because, we are quite out of the world." It was
too far to dine out in town; too far for people to come and dine with
us; too far to go to the play, or the opera; too far to drive in the
park; too far even to walk in Kensington Gardens. I remonstrated, that
we had managed to dine out, to receive visitors, and to enjoy all other
amusements very well for a considerable number of years, and that it did
not appear to me that Brompton had walked away from London, on the
contrary, that London was making rapid advances towards Brompton; but it
would not do,--all day the phrase rang in my ears, "out of the world,"
until I almost began to wish that I was out too. But it is no use
having the best of an argument when opposed to women. I had my choice,
either to give up my house, and take another in London, or to give up my
peace. With an unwilling sigh, I at last consented to leave a place
dear to me, from long association and many reminiscences; and it was
arranged that Brompton Hall was to be let, or sold, and that we were to
look out immediately for a house in some of the squares in the
metropolis. If my wife and daughters found that the distance from
London was too far for other purposes, at all events it was not too far
for house-hunting. They were at it incessantly week after week; and, at
last, they fixed upon one in the neighbourhood of Belgrave-Square,
which, as they repeated, possessed all the cheerfulness and fresh air of
the country, all the advantages of a town residence. The next day I was
to be dragged to see it, and give my opinion; at the same time, from the
commendations bestowed upon it previous to my going, I felt assured that
I was expected to give their opinion, and not my own.

The next day, accordingly, we repaired thither, setting off immediately
after breakfast, to meet the surveyor and builder, who was to be on the
spot. The house in question was one of a row just building, or built,
whitened outside, in imitation of stone. It was Number 2. Number 1 was
finished; but the windows still stained with the drippings of the
whitewash and colouring. Number 2, the one in question, was complete;
and, as the builder asserted, ready for immediate occupation. Number 3
was not so far advanced. As for the others, they were at present
nothing but carcasses, without even the front steps built to them;