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the diligence； a fiacre conveyed me to the Hotel de —； where I had
been advised by a fellow…traveller to put up； having eaten a
traveller’s supper； I retired to bed； and slept a traveller’s sleep。
Next morning I awoke from prolonged and sound repose with
the impression that I was yet in X—； and perceiving it to be broad
daylight I started up； imagining that I had overslept myself and
should be behind time at the counting…house。 The momentary and
painful sense of restraint vanished before the revived and reviving
consciousness of freedom； as； throwing back the white curtains of
my bed； I looked forth into a wide； lofty foreign chamber； how
different from the small and dingy； though not uncomfortable；
apartment I had occupied for a night or two at a respectable inn in
London while waiting for the sailing of the packet！ Yet far be it
from me to profane the memory of that little dingy room！ It； too； is
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dear to my soul； for there； as I lay in quiet and darkness； I first
heard the great bell of St。 Paul’s telling London it was midnight；
and well do I recall the deep； deliberate tones； so full charged with
colossal phlegm and force。 From the small； narrow window of that
room； I first saw the dome； looming through a London mist。 I
suppose the sensations； stirred by those first sounds； first sights；
are felt but once； treasure them； Memory； seal them in urns； and
keep them in safe niches！ Well—I rose。 Travellers talk of the
apartments in foreign dwellings being bare and uncomfortable； I
thought my chamber looked stately and cheerful。 It had such large
windows—croisées that opened like doors； with such broad； clear
panes of glass； such a great looking…glass stood on my dressing…
table—such a fine mirror glittered over the mantelpiece—the
painted floor looked so clean and glossy； when I had dressed and
was descending the stairs； the broad marble steps almost awed
me； and so did the lofty hall into which they conducted。 On the
first landing I met a Flemish housemaid： she had wooden shoes； a
short red petticoat； a printed cotton bed…gown； her face was broad；
her physiognomy eminently stupid； when I spoke to her in French；
she answered me in Flemish； with an air the reverse of civil； yet I
thought her charming； if she was not pretty or polite； she was； I
conceived； very picturesque； she reminded me of the female
figures in certain Dutch paintings I had seen in other years at
Seacombe Hall。
I repaired to the public room； that； too； was very large and very
lofty； and warmed by a stove； the floor was black； and the stove
was black； and most of the furniture was black： yet I never
experienced a freer sense of exhilaration than when I sat down at
a very long； black table （covered； however； in part by a white
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cloth）； and； having ordered breakfast； began to pour out my coffee
from a little black coffee…pot。 The stove might be dismal…looking to
some eyes； not to mine； but it was indisputably very warm； and
there were two gentlemen seated by it talking in French；
impossible to follow their rapid utterance； or comprehend much of
the purport of what they said—yet French； in the mouths of
Frenchmen； or Belgians （I was not then sensible of the horrors of
the Belgian accent） was as music to my ears。 One of these
gentlemen presently discerned me to be an Englishman—no
doubt from the fashion in which I addressed the waiter； for I
would persist in speaking French in my execrable South…of…
England style； though the man understood English。 The
gentleman； after looking towards me once or twice； politely
accosted me in very good English； I remember I wished to God
that I could speak French as well； his fluency and correct
pronunciation impressed me for the first time with a due notion of
the cosmopolitan character of the capital I was in； it was my first
experience of that skill in living languages I afterwards found to be
so general in Brussels。
I lingered over my breakfast as long as I could； while it was
there on the table； and while that stranger continued talking to
me； I was a free； independent traveller； but at last the things were
removed； the two gentlemen left the room； suddenly the illusion
ceased； reality and business came back。 I； a bondsman just
released from the yoke； freed for one week from twenty…one years
of constraint； must； of necessity； resume the fetters of dependency。
Hardly had I tasted the delight of being without a master when
duty issued her stern mandate： “Go forth and seek another
service。” I never linger over a painful and necessary task； I never
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take pleasure before business； it is not in my nature to do so；
impossible to enjoy a leisurely walk over the city； though I
perceived the morning was very fine； until I had first presented
Mr。 Hunsden’s letter of introduction； and got fairly on to the track
of a new situation。 Wrenching my mind from liberty and delight； I
seized my hat； and forced my reluctant body out of the Hotel de —
into the foreign street。
It was a fine day； but I would not look at the blue sky or at the
stately houses round me； my mind was bent on one thing； finding
out “Mr。 Brown； Numero —； Rue Royale；” for so my letter was
addressed。 By dint of inquiry I succeeded； I stood at last at the
desired door； knocked； asked for Mr。 Brown； and was admitted。
Being shown into a small breakfast…room； I found myself in the
presence of an elderly gentleman—very grave； business…like； and
respectable…looking。 I presented Mr。 Hunsden’s letter； he received
me very civilly。 After a little desultory conversation he asked me if
there was anything in which his advice or experience could be of
use。 I said； “ Yes；” and then proceeded to tell him that I was not a
gentleman of fortune； travelling for pleasure； but an ex…counting…
house clerk； who wanted employment of some kind； and that
immediately too。 He replied that as a friend of Mr。 Hunsden’s he
would be willing to assist me as well as he could。 After some
meditation he named a place in a mercantile house at Liege； and
another in a bookseller’s shop at Louvain。
“Clerk and shopman！” murmured I to myself。 “No。” I shook my
head。 I had tried the high stool； I hated it； I believed there were
other occupations that would suit me better； besides I did not wish
to leave Brussels。
“I know of no place in Brussels；” answered Mr。 Brown； “unless
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indeed you were disposed to turn your attention to teaching。 I am
acquainted with the director of a large establishment who is in
want of a professor of English and Latin。”
I thought two minutes； then I seized the idea eagerly。
“The very thing； sir！” said I。
“But；” asked he； “do you understand French well enough to
teach Belgian boys English？”
Fortunately I could answer this question in the affirmative；
having studied French under a Frenchman； I could speak the
language intelligib