characters have
become known, their tastes and habits understood, and no mean insight
obtained into their prejudices, their passions, and their pursuits. The
imposing old gentleman, whose rubicund nose and white waistcoat are the
guarantees for a taste in port, has already inspired the landlord with
a sincere regard. "My Lady's" half-invalid caprices about diet, and air,
and sunshine, have all written themselves legibly in "the bill." The
tall son's champagne score incurred of a night, and uncounted of a
morning, are not unrecorded virtues; while even the pale young ladies,
whose sketching propensities involved donkeys, and ponies, and picnics,
go not unremembered.

Their hours of rising and retiring, their habits of society or
seclusion, their preferences for the "Post" or the "Times," have all
silently been ministering to the estimate formed of them; so that in the
commonest items of the hotel ledger are the materials for their history.
And with what true charity are their characters weighed! How readily
does mine host forgive the transgressions which took their origin in
his own Burgundy! how blandly smile at the follies begotten of his
Johannisberg! With what angelic temper does the hostess pardon the
little liberties "young gentlemen from college will take!" Oh, if our
dear, dear friends would but read us with half the charity, or even
bestow upon our peccadilloes a tithe of this forgiveness! And why should
it not be so? What are these same friends and acquaintances but guests
in the same great inn which we call "the world"? and who, as they never
take upon them to settle our score, need surely not trouble themselves
about the "items."

While the Daltons were still occupied in the manner our last chapter has
described, the "Hotel de Russie" was a scene of considerable bustle, the
preparations for departure engaging every department of the household
within doors and without. There were carriage-springs to be lashed with
new cordage, drag-chains new tipped with steel, axles to smear, hinges
to oil, imperials to buckle on, cap-cases to be secured; and then what a
deluge of small articles to be stowed away in most minute recesses,
and yet be always at hand when called for! cushions and cordials,
and chauffe-pieds and "Quarterlies," smelling-boxes and slippers, and
spectacles and cigar-cases, journals and "John Murrays," to be disposed
of in the most convenient places. Every corridor and landing was blocked
up with b