rested by a whiskered soldier, who in unintelligible terms announced
himself a searcher of baggage. So to the custom house we went, when each
trunk was opened and submitted to a slight inspection; the chief
difficulty consisting in putting myself in 2 places at once--one close
to the depot of our goods in the barrow, the other before the officer
with the keys. Kitty was wedged in a corner with a writing case and, I
think, Donald's sword. My English companion was equally on the alert,
but Farmer Dinmont would have excited all your compassion, or rather
admiration; for here amidst the din of tongues and arms, unable to move
hand or foot, he stood with a smile of mingled resignation and wonder;
at length, the search being concluded to the satisfaction of both
parties, we re-commenced our course, and in a few minutes Kitty found
herself in a new world. Women and children unlike any women and children
you ever saw; close caps with butterfly wings for the former, little
black skull bonnets for the latter, in shape both alike, much resembling
those toys which, if placed on their heads, by their superior specific
gravity and extensive sacrifice of their lower projections instantly
revolve and settle upon their tails.

"Voici, Messieurs et Madame, entrons dans la Cour Imperiale," and
another moment hoisted us within the covered gateway of this Hotel of
Imperial appellation. Our arrangements for sleeping and eating being
complete, we sat down on a bench before the door to gaze, but not to be
gazed upon, for the good people never cast an eye upon us. On retiring
to tea, good Farmer Dinmont's countenance relaxed as he flung himself
into a chair; he put his hands upon the table and exclaimed, "Well,
well, here I am sitting down for the first time out of Old England!" ...
A cup of tea, or rather a kettle full, for our salt beef had kindled an
insatiable thirst, put him in good humour again, and, but for a sort of
sigh or a look or a jerk which proved Old England to be uppermost in his
thoughts, he appeared quite satisfied. With some trouble Kitty secured
the fly cap chambermaid and had taken possession of her room; having
seen her safe, I descended to give orders for a warming-pan, leaving her
(after having been 2 nights in her clothes) to the luxury of an entire
change of linen and course of ablutions. On re-crossing the court 10
minutes afterwards I ran against a waiter running off with a
warming-pan, glowing with red-hot embers. "M