and bundles, and
innumerable belongings to look for our baggage, and saw us safely
consigned to one of the dingy cabs in waiting. I trust the people of our
own country repay to wanderers there something of the kindness which
American women, travelling alone, receive at the hands of strangers
abroad. It was neither the first nor the last courtesy proffered most
respectfully, and received in the spirit in which it was offered. There
is a deal of nonsense in the touch-me-not air with which many go out to
see the world, as there is a deal of folly in the opposite extreme. But
these acquaintances of a day, the opportunity of coming face to face
with the people in whose country you chance to be, of hearing and
answering their strange questions in regard to our government, our
manners and customs, as well as in displaying our own ignorance in
regard to their institutions, in giving information and assistance when
it is in our power, and in gratefully receiving the same from
others,--all this constitutes one of the greatest pleasures of
journeying.

Our peace of mind received a rude shock, when, after rattling over the
pavings around the little park in Queen's Square, and pulling the bell
at Mr. B.'s boarding-house, we found that we were indeed expected, but
indefinitely, and no place awaited us. We had forgotten to telegraph. It
was May, the London season, and the hotels full. "X. told us you were
coming," said the most lady-like landlady, leading us into the
drawing-room from the dank darkness of the street. There was a glow of
red-hot coals in the grate, a suggestion of warmth and comfort in the
bright colors and cosy appointments of the room--but no place for us.
"I'm very sorry; if you had telegraphed--but we can take you by Monday
certainly," she said. I counted my fingers. Two days. Ah! but we might
perish in the streets before that. Everything began to grow dark and
doleful in contemplation. Some one entered the room. The landlady turned
to him: "O, here is the good man to whose care you were consigned by X."
We gave a sigh of relief, as we greeted the Good Man, for all our
courage, like the immortal Bob Acres's, had been oozing from our finger
ends. And if we possess one gift above another, it is an ability to be
taken care of. "Do you know X.?" asked another gentleman, glancing up
from his writing at the long, red-covered table. "We travelled with
him," nodding towards his daughter, whose feet touched the fender,
"th