Page:Romance & Reality 1.pdf/106

100

" all full," said a little bustling waiter, who popped about like a needle through a seam. "No horses to be had,—all at the races,—very bad day, sir,—very bad indeed!". "Confound the wet!" somewhat hastily ejaculated Mr. Lorraine, resuming his station at the window, which looked into a narrow little street, now almost Venetian with a canal in the middle. The rain came down in torrents,—not a creature was passing; he had not even the comfort of seeing a few people drenched through: somebody was dead in the shop opposite, so that was shut up: he turned to the room,—there was not a glass to enliven its dark dingy lilac walls; the chairs were with those black shining sliding seats, in contempt of all comfort; the fire-place was filled with