ABSTRACT
Early in the morning, Mrs. Blagden awoke me, and bade me dress myself, in order that I might pass through the adjoining apartment, before Sir Sidney was stirring. With lingering eyes, and loitering steps, I crossed the chamber, eager and longing to behold that rara avis43 about whom ‘all the world’ was talking: but the curtains were still closed, and his governess having previously commanded me to tread softly, kept her finger on her lip to remind me of her injunction. I descended to the maitre d’hotel’s room, where Mr. Hanbury waited to receive me.
