With this brief introduction, she produced from her pocket an advertisement, carefully cut out of a newspaper, setting forth that in Buckingham Street in the Adelphi there was to be let, furnished, with a view of the river, a singularly desirable, and compact set of chambers, forming a genteel residence for a young gentleman, a member of one of the Inns of Court, or otherwise, with immediate possession. Terms moderate, and could be taken for a month only if required.
“Why, this is the very thing, aunt!” said I, flushed with the possible dignity of living in chambers.
“Then come,” replied my aunt, immediately resuming the bonnet she had a minute before laid aside. “We’ll go and look at ’em.”
Away we went. The advertisement directed us to apply to Mrs. Crupp on the premises, and we rung the area bell, which we supposed to communicate with Mrs. Crupp. It was not until we had rung three or four times that we could prevail on Mrs. Crupp to communicate with us, but at last she appeared, being a stout lady with a flounce of flannel petticoat below a nankeen gown.
“Let us see these chambers of yours, if you please, ma’am,” said my aunt.
“For this gentleman?” said Mrs. Crupp, feeling in her pocket for her keys.
“Yes, for my nephew,” said my aunt.
“And a sweet set they is for sich!” said Mrs. Crupp.
So we went up-stairs.
They were on the top of the house—a great point with my aunt, being