my
nose was rather aquiline; and after I had read this book, it was
surprising with what eagerness I examined the faces of those whom I met;
and if I saw a nose upon any man's face, at all resembling my own, I
immediately would wonder and surmise whether that person could be my
father. The constant dwelling upon the subject at last created a species
of monomania, and a hundred times a day I would mutter to myself, _"Who
is my father?"_ indeed, the very bells, when they rung a peal, seemed,
as in the case of Whittington, to chime the question, and at last I
talked so much on the subject to Timothy, who was my _Fidus Achates,_
and bosom friend, that I really believe, partial as he was to me, he
wished my father at the devil.

Our shop was well appointed with all that glare and glitter with which
we decorate the "_house of call_" of disease and death. Being situated
in such a thoroughfare, passengers would stop to look in, and
ragged-vested, and in other garments still more ragged, little boys
would stand to stare at the variety of colours, and the 'pottecary
gentleman, your humble servant, who presided over so many
labelled-in-gold phalanxes which decorated the sides of the shop.

Among those who always stopped and gazed as she passed by, which was
generally three or four times a day, was a well-dressed female,
apparently about forty years of age, straight as an arrow, with an
elasticity of step, and a decision in her manner of walking, which was
almost masculine, although her form, notwithstanding that it was tall
and thin, was extremely feminine and graceful. Sometimes she would fix
her eyes upon me, and there was a wildness in her looks, which certainly
gave a painful impression, and at the same time so fascinated me, that
when I met her gaze, the paper which contained the powder remained
unfolded, and the arm which was pouring out the liquid suspended.

She was often remarked by Timothy, as well as me; and we further
observed, that her step was not equal throughout the day. In her latter
peregrinations, towards the evening, her gait was more vigorous, but
unequal, at the same time that her gaze was more stedfast. She usually
passed the shop for the last time each day, about five o'clock in the
afternoon.

One evening, after we had watched her past, as we supposed, to return no
more till the ensuing morning, for this peeping in, on her part, had
become an expected occurrence, and afforded much amusement to Timothy,