Oh, Rufus Dingwell, it is such a rainy day! And the London street which I look out on from my hotel window presents such a dirty and such a miserable view! Do you know, I hardly feel like the same Amelius who promised to write to you when you left the steamer at Queenstown.

My spirits are sinking; I begin to feel old.

Am I in the right state of mind to tell you what are my first impressions of London?
Perhaps I may alter my opinion.

At present (this is between ourselves), I don't like London or London people--excepting two ladies, who, in very different ways, have interested and charmed me.
Who are the ladies?
I must tell you what I heard about them from Mr.
Hethcote, before I present them to you on my own responsibility.
After you left us, I found the last day of the voyage to Liverpool dull enough.

Mr.Hethcote did not seem to feel it in the same way: on the contrary, he grew more familiar and confidential in his talk with me.