Rambles in Dickens' Land Part 7

But commit myself to a solitary female statement, no, Miss! Nor would you for a moment wish,' said Mrs. Billickin, with a strong sense of injury, 'to take that advantage of your s.e.x, if you were not brought to it by inconsiderate example.'

"Rosa reddening as if she had made some most disgraceful attempt to overreach the good lady, besought Mr. Grewgious to rest content with any signature. And accordingly, in a baronial way, the sign-manual BILLICKIN got appended to the doc.u.ment."

And we may here recall the incidental pa.s.sage of arms between the worthy landlady and Miss Twinkleton, Mrs. B. being always in direct antagonism with the schoolmistress, against whom she "openly pitted herself as one whom she fully ascertained to be her natural enemy." Witness "the B.

enveloped in the shawl of State," as she remarked to Miss Twinkleton that

"'A rush from scanty feeding to generous feeding, from what you may call messing to what you may call method, do require a power of const.i.tution, which is not often found in youth, particular when undermined by boarding-school... . I was put in youth to a very genteel boarding-school, the mistress being no less a lady than yourself, of about your own age, or it may be some years younger, and a poorness of blood flowed from the table, which has run through my life.'

"'If you refer to the poverty of your circulation,' began Miss Twinkleton, when again the Billickin neatly stopped her.

"'I have used no such expressions.'

"'If you refer, then, to the poorness of your blood-'

"'Brought upon me,' stipulated the Billickin, expressly, 'at a boarding-school-'

"'Then,' resumed Miss Twinkleton, 'all I can say is, that I am bound to believe, on your a.s.severation, that it is very poor indeed. I cannot forbear adding, that if that unfortunate circ.u.mstance influences your conversation, it is much to be lamented, and it is eminently desirable that your blood were richer.'"

Southampton Street is not a long one, and is now chiefly occupied by solicitors and architects; but there is reason to believe that the Billickins' residence was, aforetime, to be found at No. 18, which is situated next door but one to an archway. As Mrs. B. herself candidly pointed out,

"The arching leads to a mews; mewses must exist."

The mews aforesaid is now superseded by a factory. Mrs. Billickin has long since relinquished the cares of housekeeping and retired from public life. The present amiable landlady conducts the business on different principles, and will be at all times disposed to give her patrons satisfaction, whether they be of the scholastic persuasion or otherwise.

Southampton Street leads immediately northward into Bloomsbury Square.

This place is mentioned in "Barnaby Rudge" as the locality in which _Lord Mansfield's_ residence was situated at the period of the Gordon Riots.

In chapter 66 its destruction by the rioters is thus described:-

"They began to demolish the house with great fury; and setting fire to it in several places, involved in a common ruin the whole of the costly furniture, the plate and jewels, a beautiful gallery of pictures, the rarest collection of ma.n.u.scripts ever possessed by any one private person in the world, and, worst of all, because nothing could replace the loss, the great Law Library, on almost every page of which were notes, in the judge's own hand, of inestimable value; being the results of the study and experience of his whole life."

[Picture: The Children's Hospital]

The house occupied the site of No. 29, on the east side of the square.

We subsequently read in the same book that two of the rioters-cripples-were hanged in this square, the execution being momentarily delayed, as they were placed facing the house they had a.s.sisted to despoil. Leaving the square at its north-east angle (right) by _Bloomsbury Place_, the Rambler shortly comes into _Southampton Row_, turning left, and proceeding for a short distance upwards to _Cosmo Place_ on the right, a short cut which leads directly to the contiguous shades of Queen Square just beyond. It will be remembered that in this neighbourhood Richard Carstone had furnished apartments at the time when he was pursuing the experimental study of the Law under the auspices of Messrs. Kenge and Carboy (see "Bleak House," chapter 18). There is reason to believe that the "quiet old" house intended was No. 28 _Devonshire Street_, leading from the south-east angle of the square.

Leaving Queen Square by _Great Ormond Street_ (eastward), we immediately arrive, on the north side (No. 50), at The Children's Hospital, adjacent to the Catholic Church and Convent of St. John. In 1858, February 9th, a public dinner was arranged, by way of charitable appeal, for funds necessary to carry on and develop the work. It was happily resolved to invite Charles d.i.c.kens to preside on that occasion, and he "threw himself into the service heart and soul." His earnest, pathetic, but powerful appeal-"majestic in its own simplicity"-that night added more than 3000 to the treasury, which amount was, two months afterwards, substantially increased by the proceeds of a public reading of his "Christmas Carol."

It is pleasant to record that this inst.i.tution has ever since flourished amain, thus fulfilling the prediction of d.i.c.kens when, suggesting that the enterprise could not be possibly maintained unless the Hospital were made better known, he continued as follows:-

"I limit myself to saying-better known, because I will not believe that, in a Christian community of fathers and mothers, and brothers and sisters, it can fail, being better known, to be well and richly endowed."

We may here recall the scene narrated in chapter 9 of "Our Mutual Friend," when _Johnny_ makes his will and arranges his affairs, leaving "a kiss for the boofer lady"-

"The family whom G.o.d had brought together were not all asleep, but were all quiet. From bed to bed, a light womanly tread and a pleasant fresh face pa.s.sed in the silence of the night. A little head would lift itself into the softened light here and there, to be kissed as the face went by-for these little patients are very loving-and would then submit itself to be composed to rest again...

. Over most of the beds, the toys were yet grouped as the children had left them when they last laid themselves down, and in their innocent grotesqueness and incongruity they might have stood for the children's dreams."

Proceeding eastward by _Great Ormond Street_ and turning (left) through _Lamb's Conduit Street_, to its northern end, we face the entrance of the Foundling Hospital. This beneficent inst.i.tution was established by Captain Thomas Coram, about the middle of the last century, and is a.s.sociated with "No Thoroughfare," the Christmas number (and last in the series) of "All the Year Round," 1867. Visitors attending the morning service of the _Foundling Church_ on Sundays are admitted to the children's _Dining-Hall_ thereafter, and so may have an opportunity of realising the scene portrayed by d.i.c.kens, when the "veiled lady" induced a female attendant to point out Walter Wilding:-

"The bright autumnal sun strikes freshly into the wards; and the heavy-framed windows through which it shines, and the panelled walls on which it shines, are such windows, and such walls as pervade Hogarth's pictures. Neat attendants silently glide about the orderly and silent tables, the lookers-on move or stop as the fancy takes them; comments in whispers on face such a number, from such a window, are not unfrequent-many of the faces are of a character to fix attention. Some of the visitors from the outside public are accustomed visitors. They have established a speaking acquaintance with the occupants of particular seats at the table, and halt at those points to say a word or two."

In "Little Dorrit," too, reference is made to this inst.i.tution, _in re_ the adoption of Tattycoram by good Papa and Mamma Meagles. In the times of Barnaby Rudge, the London streets were not greatly extended northward beyond this (now central) neighbourhood. We may remember that the headquarters of the "Captain," Sim Tappert.i.t, Hugh, and Dennis were at The "Boot" Tavern, which is described as

"A lone place of public entertainment, situated in the fields at the back of the Foundling Hospital; a very solitary spot at that period, and quite deserted after dark. The Tavern stood at some distance from any high road, and was only approachable by a dark and narrow lane."

Proceeding onwards through _Guilford Street_, we reach _Doughty Street_, _Mecklenburgh Square_, running transversely north and south. On the east side we may note No. 48 Doughty Street, as the house to which d.i.c.kens removed from _Furnival's Inn_, in the early spring of 1837, and in which he lived two years and a half, previous to his longer residence at _No._ 1 _Devonshire Terrace_. In it "Oliver Twist" and "Nicholas Nickleby"

were written; and here, too, the early friendship, which had been for some time steadily developing between d.i.c.kens and Forster, became cemented for life. His biographer says:-

"Nor had many weeks pa.s.sed before he addressed to me from Doughty Street, words which it is my sorrowful pride to remember have had literal fulfilment. 'I look back with unmingled pleasure to every link which each ensuing week has added to the chain of our attachment. It shall go hard, I hope, ere anything but death impairs the toughness of a bond now so firmly riveted.'"

The route being retraced to the Foundling Hospital, and thence continued through Guilford Street to _Russell __Square_, we turn (right) by _Woburn Place_ to TAVISTOCK SQUARE, on the south side of which (TAVISTOCK VILLAS) is situated Tavistock House. To this residence d.i.c.kens removed (from DEVONSHIRE TERRACE) in October 1851, retaining its possession for nearly ten years. During this time "Bleak House" was completed, and "Hard Times," "Little Dorrit," and the "Tale of Two Cities" were given to the world. TAVISTOCK HOUSE is now transformed into a Jewish College. _Hans Christian Andersen_, visiting his friend in London, gives the following description:-

"In Tavistock Square stands Tavistock House. This and the strip of garden in front of it are shut out from the thoroughfare by an iron railing. A large garden, with a gra.s.s plat and high trees, stretches behind the house, and gives it a countrified look in the midst of this coal and gas steaming London. In the pa.s.sage from street to garden hung pictures and engravings. Here stood a marble bust of d.i.c.kens, so like him, so youthful and handsome; and over a bedroom door were inserted the bas-reliefs of Night and Day, after Thorwaldsen. On the first floor was a rich library, with a fireplace and a writing-table, looking out on the garden; and here it was that in winter d.i.c.kens and his friends acted plays to the satisfaction of all parties. The kitchen was underground, and at the top of the house were the bedrooms."

[Picture: Tavistock House]

Leaving this locality at the north-west angle, pa.s.sing _Gordon Square_, we turn (right) into _Gordon Street_, and (left) through _Gower Place_, to GOWER STREET, on the west side of which-opposite-is the house once bearing a large bra.s.s plate on the door, announcing Mrs. d.i.c.kens's Establishment, being the place at which Mrs. d.i.c.kens (mother of Charles) endeavoured to set up a school during the difficult times of 1822. The family lived here for a short time, previous to the Marshalsea imprisonment of d.i.c.kens senior; Charles being then a boy ten years of age. In the first chapter of Forster's Biography is the following:-

"A house was soon found at number four, Gower Street North; a large bra.s.s plate on the door announced Mrs. d.i.c.kens's establishment; and the result I can give in the exact words of the then small actor in the comedy, whose hopes it had raised so high: 'I left at a great many other doors a great many circulars, calling attention to the merits of the establishment. Yet n.o.body ever came to school, nor do I recollect that anybody ever proposed to come, or that the least preparation was made to receive anybody. But, I know that we got on very badly with the butcher and baker; that very often we had not too much for dinner; and that at last my father was arrested.' ...

Almost everything by degrees was p.a.w.ned or sold, little Charles being the princ.i.p.al agent in these sorrowful transactions ... until at last, even of the furniture of Gower Street, number four, there was nothing left except a few chairs, a kitchen table, and some beds.

Then they encamped, as it were, in the two parlours of the emptied house, and lived there night and day."

Gower Street has been rearranged since that time (there is now no Gower Street North), and the houses are renumbered. No. 145, near _Gower Street Chapel_, and other houses adjoining, are now in the occupation of Messrs. Maple & Co.; and this No. 145 was the house then enumerated as No. 4 Gower Street North. Mrs. d.i.c.kens's experience, it will be remembered, has been pleasantly referred to in the pages of "Our Mutual Friend;" the stately _Mrs. Wilfer_ therein making a similar experiment, with the same result. In chapter 4 we read of _Rumpty's_ return home from business: when

"Something had gone wrong with the house door, for R. Wilfer stopped on the steps, staring at it, and cried 'Hal-loa?' 'Yes,' said Mrs.

Wilfer, 'the man came himself with a pair of pincers and took it off, and took it away. He said that as he had no expectation of ever being paid for it, and as he had an order for another _Ladies'

School_ door-plate, it was better (burnished up) for the interests of all parties.'"

On the opposite corner of the street is the _Gower Street Station_ of the Metropolitan Railway, at which train may be taken to _Baker Street_. On arrival, we turn to the right, by _Marylebone Road_, to Devonshire Terrace, consisting of three houses at the northern end of _High Street_,_ Marylebone_. No. 1, now occupied by a legal firm, was for twelve years the residence of Charles d.i.c.kens (when in town). It is described by Forster as

"A handsome house with a garden of considerable size, shut out from the New Road by a brick wall, facing the York Gate into Regent's Park."

To quote the ironical dictum of its future tenant when the choice was made, it was "a house of great promise (and great premium), undeniable situation, and excessive splendour." During the period of the author's residence here several of his best-known books were given to the world-"Master Humphrey's Clock," CHRISTMAS BOOKS, and "David Copperfield"

included. Proceeding forwards and eastward past _Devonshire Place_, we may take our way, turning on the right down Harley Street, of which we read in "Little Dorrit" that,

"Like unexceptionable society, the opposing rows of houses in Harley Street were very grim with one another. Indeed, the mansions and their inhabitants were so much alike in that respect that the people were often to be found drawn up on opposite sides of dinner tables, in the shade of their own loftiness, staring at the other side of the way with the dulness of the houses. Everybody knows how like the street the two dinner-rows of people who take their stand by the street will be. The expressionless uniform twenty houses, all to be knocked at and rung at in the same form, all approachable by the same dull steps, all fended off by the same pattern of railing, all with the same impracticable fire-escapes, the same inconvenient fixtures in their heads, and everything, without exception, to be taken at a high valuation-who has not dined with these?"

In this street lived that great financier and swindler _Mr. Merdle_, who had his residence in one of the handsomest of these handsome houses; but it would be, perhaps, invidious to point out any particular location for the same, d.i.c.kens himself having purposely omitted an exact address.

Following the course of Harley Street, we come in due time to QUEEN ANNE STREET, running east and west. Adopting the leftward turning (east), we may find at the next corner-_Mansfield Street_-on the north side, Mr.

Dombey's House, as described in chapter 3 of "Dombey and Son"-

"Mr. Dombey's house was a large one, on the shady side of a tall, dark, dreadfully genteel street in the region between Portland Place and Bryanston Square. It was a corner house, with great wide areas containing cellars, frowned upon by barred windows, and leered at by crooked-eyed doors leading to dust-bins. It was a house of dismal state, with a circular back to it, containing a whole suite of drawing-rooms looking upon a gravelled yard."

It will be observed that the position and character of this mansion exactly correspond to the above description, being in its general style noteworthy and unique. This, then, was the private establishment and "home department" of the Dombey family, where died the gentle Paul; the lonely house in which the neglected Florence grew to lovely womanhood; what time the second wife-the stately Edith-held temporary sway.

Hence a short distance southward leads to _Cavendish Square_. In this neighbourhood we read that Madame Mantalini's fashionable dressmaking establishment was situated, at which Kate Nickleby was for some few weeks engaged, on the recommendation of her uncle. The house intended was probably in _Wigmore Street_, No. 11. In the days of the Mantalini _regime_ the business was advertised

"To the n.o.bility and gentry by the casual exhibition, near the handsomely-curtained windows, of two or three elegant bonnets of the newest fashion, and some costly garments in the most approved taste."