IN BURTON Crescent, on the semi-circle apex there, I lodged some little period up a six flight four foot stair, It came about by freak of chance, 'twas in a cul-de-sac, I found myself one morning, and compelled to tramp it back, Whilst blessing gates of London town that bar the traffic yet, I saw a window label, lettered, "lodgings to be let," A gloomy habitation 'twas, to give the nerves the creep! But possibly a comfortable roosting place to sleep, Of knockers on its oaken door, it bore a double stock, I took those knockers, and I struck duet of double knock, And just as I was rounding off my rallantando din, The door was gently opened and a lady cried "Come in!" I must confess, I fluttered with a flick of some surprise, To see a lady so petite, and with such piercing eyes, An artificial bloom was on her cheek, and nose, and neck, Her gown was of a quaint brocade in antique floral check. By transmutating hand of time, and his assistant care, The golden sheen to silver light was paling thro' her hair, And from the dentistry of art, that crowned her rippled chin, She greeted me with pearly smile, the moment I stepped in. I noted on her fingers small, some antique diamond rings, And in her slippers russet brown, she tripped as 'twere on springs, A dainty wrap, completed her little quaintly self, She seemed a living Watteau, that stepped from off a shelf. She seemed a living Watteau, from out a canvas sprung, She wasn't--no, she wasn't--well you could not call her young. She greeted me upsmiling, with business kindled fire, And volunteered the question, "What rooms do you require?" It wasn't my intention, to move upon that day, My humor was to dawdle, in idle sort of way, So left it to her option, if twenty rooms or one, In earth upon the basement, or garret near the sun. She showed her approbation of my eccentric style, And greeted me politely, with confidential smile, "I have a room, the lodger is yet remaining there, But leaving soon--I'll show it, if you will step the stair.-- She mounted up before me, her little cloak, like wings, Did supplement her flexor, and her extensor springs, She paused upon each lobby, to note the pleasing scene, Of leaves amongst the chimneys, that lent a tint of green. The sanitary question, she settled with some pains, Explained, the County Council had just been down the drains, [Illustration]