Enquire within upon everything.

Robert Kemp Philp

Date:: 1863

Credit: Enquire within upon everything. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

69/392 page 33

$ALL THINGS HAVE A BEGINNING, GOD EXCEPTED. 38 slie thought landlords would Aobject to Much an agreement, as when they got a good tenant they liked to ’old ’im as long as they could. She expressed an opinion that ’Ampstead must be very ’ealthy, because it was so ’igh Aup. We soon reached the summit of the hill, and turned through a lane which led towards the Heath, and in which villas and cottages were smiling on 'jither side. “Now, there’s a Aelegant iittio place!” she exclaimed, “just suited to my Aideas — about Aeight rooms, and a Aoriel Aover the Aen- trance.” But it was not to let—so we passed on. Presently, she saw something likely to suit her, and as there was a bill in the window, “To be Let—Inquire Within,” she gave a loud rat-a-tat-tat at the door. The servant opened it. “ I see that this ’ouse is to let ?” “Yes, ma’am it is; will you walk in?” “ ’Ow many rooms are there ?” “ Eleven, ma’am; but if you will step in, mistress will speak to you.” A veiy graceful lady made her ap- pearance at the parlour door, and in- vited us to step in. I felt exceedingly nervous, for I at once perceived that » the lady of the house spoke with that accuracy and taste which is one of the best indications of refinement. “ The house is to let—and a very pleasant residence we have found it.” “ ’Ave you ^occupied it long ?” “Our family has resided here for more than nine years.” I “ Then, I suppose, your lease ’as run Aout!” “ No! we have it for five years longer; but my brother, who is a cler- gyman, has been appointed to a living in Yorkshire, and for his sake, and for the pleasure of his society, we desire to remove.” “ Well—there’s nothing like keeping families together for the sake of ’appi- neas. Now, there’s my poor dear ’It- ching”—[here she paused, as if some- what affected, and some young ladies I who were in the room drew their heads I together, and appeared to consult about their needlework; but I saw, by dimples upon their cheeks, which they could not conceal, that they wei-e smiling]—“ ’e’s ’itherto been Aat ’ome so seldom, that I’ve ’ardly Aever known what ’appiness Ais.” I somewhat abiuptly broke in upon the conversation, by suggesting that she had better look through the house, and inquire the conditions of tenancy. We consequently went through the various rooms, and in every one or them she had “ an Aobjection to this,” or “ a ’atred for that,” or would give “ a ’int which might be useful” to the lady when she removed. The yoxmg ladies were heard tittering veiy much as we walked across the staircases, for it generally happened upon these occa- sions that Mrs. H. broke out, in a loud voice, with her imperfect elocution. I felt so much annoyed, that I deter- mined to cure Mrs. H. of her defective speaking. How I accomplished this apparently hopeless task I will state hereafter. {See 279.) 162. TO MAKE GINGERBREAD CAKE.—Take one pound and a-half of treacle, one and a half ounces of ground ginger, half an ounce of carraway seeds, two ounces of allspice, four ounces of orange peel, shred fine; half a pound sweet butter, six ounces blanched almonds, one pormd honey, and one and a half ounoes carbonate of soda, with as much fine fiour as makes a dough ^ of moderate consistence.— Directions for baking it.—Make a pit in five pounds fiour, then pour in the treacle, and all the other ingredients, creaming the butter; then mix them altogether into a dough, work it well, then put in three quarters of an ounce tartaric acid, and put the dough into a buttered pan, and bake for two hours in a cool oven. To know when it js ready, dip a fork into it, and if it cotneo out sticky put it in the oven again ; if not, it is ready. 0$

Enquire within upon everything.

Licence and re-use

Contents