However, we had no cause for umbrage on this occasion; for the carriage rumbled over the hard, dry, ground, just as St. Stiff's was striking nine--the stars above, twinkling, as they only can, upon a clear, frosty night. Having knocked mildly, for fear of frightening Mrs. Brown thus early, and been kept waiting some time, we were admitted; after being taken for Mr. Strap, the help, by John, whom we surprised in his fustian jacket and the middle of a fugitive tea. The ladies soon disappeared into an upper region, not soon to return, leaving us to find amusement as we best could:--to examine the tiger-skin, ingeniously sewn upon a form to resemble a living animal (which, by the bye, it did not); to peep into the parlour, and discover the supper, looking mysteriously vast, by the light of one burner, very much turned down; to pace the hall; warm our kids at the Arnott; and, standing upon the mat, listen to the unsophisticated talk without--speculating as to what a foreign traveller could divine the conversation to mean, or the diurnal occupation of the lanthorn-men to be:-- 1st voice. "_Droves_, did yer say, in _Mad-ox_ Street?" 2nd do. "Yes, _herds_; I got eight _bulls_ and a _hog_ out of _Bullstrode_ Street." 1st do. "See to that _bull's-eye_, _calf_; and, as there ain't no _kids_ a-coming, I'll _toss_ yer for a _tanner_." Here "the noblest study of mankind" was broken off--Alphonso appearing. We left our men, to pace the hall--abandoning character for a slow march,--whilst the page constructed a scaffold of clothes-horses and table-covers, forming a repository for hats, over the back kitchen-stairs; the lobby beyond which, we discovered had been metamorphosed into a still-room, and was now presided over by two pretty, plump damsels, in the finest cobweb caps--mere blond buttons, of no earthly use, but, withal, very becoming:--one of these maids being in converse with a young "gent.," who, it appears, has been forgotten in the excitement, and discovered here--his face very sticky with candy and cream. Master Thomas Brown, fearing that such search might be instituted for him, has taken a great affection to the leg of the still-room table; from which he is coaxed by more attractive substances, seized, and borne up to bed--his yells becoming "small by degrees and beautifully less," until lost altogether. [Illustration] Now comes Mr. Strap, to help and wait at table--in his huge white cravat, yellow vest, and new pair of second-hand plush smalls, disappearing below to develope his calves, which are enveloped in gaiters,--gingerly beckoning the man with the bad hat, who had been tuning the piano, and Mr. Palaver, the Mizzlington Artist in hair, to follow, that they may escape by the back door.