eunrulypowersblowinglifeintostorms,disorderingsedulousmornings,anduprootingthestabilityoftheafternoon—dressmakers,thatistosay,andconfectioners'shops.Sixyardsofsilkwillcoveronebodybutifyouhavetodevisesixhundredshapesforit,andtwiceasmanycolours?—inthemiddleofwhichthereistheurgentquestionofthepuddingwithtuftsofgreencreamandbattlementsofalmondpaste.Ithasnotarrived.
Theflamingohoursflutteredsoftlythroughthesky.ButregularlytheydippedtheirwingsinpitchblackNottingHill,forinstance,orthepurlieusofClerkenwell.NowonderthatItalianremainedahiddenart,andthepianoalwaysplayedthesamesonata.InordertobuyonepairofelasticstockingsforMrs.Page,widow,agedsixty-three,inreceiptoffiveshillingsout-doorrelief,andhelpfromheronlysonemployedinMessrs.Mackie'sdye-works,sufferinginwinterwithhischest,lettersmustbewritten,columnsfilledupinthesameround,simplehandthatwroteinMr.Letts'sdiaryhowtheweatherwasfine,thechildrendemons,andJacobFlandersunworldly.ClaraDurrantprocuredthestockings,playedthesonata,filledthevases,fetchedthepudding,leftthecards,andwhenthegreatinventionofpaperflowerstoswiminfinger-bowlswasdiscovered,wasoneofthosewhomostmarvelledattheirbrieflives.
Norweretherewantingpoetstocelebratethetheme.EdwinMallett,forexample,wrotehisversesending:
/*AndreadtheirdoominChloe'seyes,*/
whichcausedClaratoblushatthefirstreading,andtolaughatthesecond,sayingthatitwasjustlikehimtocallherChloewhenhernamewasClara.Ridiculousyoungman!Butwhen,betweentenandelevenonarainymorning,EdwinMallettlaidhislifeatherfeetsheranoutoftheroomandhidherselfinherbedroom,andTimothybelowcouldnotgetonwithhisworkallthatmorningonaccountofhersobs.
"Whichistheresultofenjoyingyourself,"saidMrs.Durrantseverely,surveyingthedanceprogrammeallscoredwiththesameinitials,orrathertheyweredifferentonesthistime—R.B.insteadofE.M.RichardBonamyitwasnow,theyoungmanwiththeWellingtonnose.
"Bu