exceedingly polite to her, for which she said she could never
express her _h_obligations--an assertion which seemed to me to be
literally true. It was some time before she resumed her accustomed
freedom of conversation; but as we ascended the hill she explained
to me that she should like to take the house as tenant from '_ear_
to _'ear!_--but she thought landlords would _h_object to such an
agreement, as when they got a good tenant they liked to 'old 'im as
long as they could. She expressed an opinion that 'Amstead must be
very 'ealthy, because it was so 'igh _h_up.

We soon reached the summit of the hill, and turned through a lane
which led towards the Heath, and in which villas and cottages were
smiling on each side. "Now, there's a _h_elegant little place!" she
exclaimed, "just suited to my _h_ideas--about _h_eight rooms and a
_h_oriel _h_over the _h_entrance." But it was not to let--so we
passed on.

Presently, she saw something likely to suit her, and as there was a
bill in the window, "To be let--Enquire Within," she gave a loud
rat-a-tat-tat at the door.

The servant opened it.

"I see this 'ouse is to let."

"Yes, ma'am, it is; will you walk in?"

"'Ow many rooms are there?"

"Eleven, ma'am; but if you will step in, mistress will speak to
you."

A very graceful lady made her appearance at the parlour door, and
invited us to step in. I felt exceedingly nervous, for I at once
perceived that the lady of the house spoke with that accuracy and
taste which is one of the best indications of refinement.

"The house _is_ to let--and a very pleasant residence we have found
it."

"'Ave you _h_occupied it long?"

"Our family has resided here for more than nine years."

"Then, I suppose, your lease 'as run _h_out!"

"No! we have it for five years longer: but my brother, who is a
clergyman, has been appointed to a living in Yorkshire, and for his
sake, and for the pleasure of his society, we desire to remove."

"Well--there's nothing like keeping families together for the sake
of 'appiness. Now there's my poor dear 'Itching" [There she paused,
as if somewhat affected, and some young ladies who were in the room
drew their heads together, and appeared to consult about their
needlework; but I saw, by dimples upon their cheeks, which they
could not co