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strongly than any other consideration could。 The best skilled of
the nurses came originally from a kindred neighbourhood； almost as
poor； and she knew how much the work was needed。 She is a fair
dressmaker。 The hospital cannot pay her as many pounds in the year
as there are months in it； and one day the lady regarded it as a
duty to speak to her about her improving her prospects and
following her trade。 'No；' she said： she could never be so useful
or so happy elsewhere any more； she must stay among the children。
And she stays。 One of the nurses； as I passed her； was washing a
baby…boy。 Liking her pleasant face； I stopped to speak to her
charge； … a common； bullet…headed； frowning charge enough； laying
hold of his own nose with a slippery grasp； and staring very
solemnly out of a blanket。 The melting of the pleasant face into
delighted smiles； as this young gentleman gave an unexpected kick；
and laughed at me； was almost worth my previous pain。
An affecting play was acted in Paris years ago； called 'The
Children's Doctor。' As I parted from my children's doctor； now in
question； I saw in his easy black necktie； in his loose buttoned
black frock…coat； in his pensive face； in the flow of his dark
hair； in his eyelashes； in the very turn of his moustache； the
exact realisation of the Paris artist's ideal as it was presented
on the stage。 But no romancer that I know of has had the boldness
to prefigure the life and home of this young husband and young wife
in the Children's Hospital in the east of London。
I came away from Ratcliff by the Stepney railway station to the
terminus at Fenchurch Street。 Any one who will reverse that route
may retrace my steps。
CHAPTER XXXIII … A LITTLE DINNER IN AN HOUR
It fell out on a day in this last autumn； that I had to go down
from London to a place of seaside resort； on an hour's business；
accompanied by my esteemed friend Bullfinch。 Let the place of
seaside resort be； for the nonce； called Namelesston。
I had been loitering about Paris in very hot weather； pleasantly
breakfasting in the open air in the garden of the Palais Royal or
the Tuileries； pleasantly dining in the open air in the Elysian
Fields； pleasantly taking my cigar and lemonade in the open air on
the Italian Boulevard towards the small hours after midnight。
Bullfinch … an excellent man of business … has summoned me back
across the Channel； to transact this said hour's business at
Namelesston； and thus it fell out that Bullfinch and I were in a
railway carriage together on our way to Namelesston； each with his
return…ticket in his waistcoat…pocket。
Says Bullfinch； 'I have a proposal to make。 Let us dine at the
Temeraire。'
I asked Bullfinch； did he recommend the Temeraire？ inasmuch as I
had not been rated on the books of the Temeraire for many years。
Bullfinch declined to accept the responsibility of recommending the
Temeraire； but on the whole was rather sanguine about it。 He
'seemed to remember；' Bullfinch said； that he had dined well there。
A plain dinner； but good。 Certainly not like a Parisian dinner
（here Bullfinch obviously became the prey of want of confidence）；
but of its kind very fair。
I appeal to Bullfinch's intimate knowledge of my wants and ways to
decide whether I was usually ready to be pleased with any dinner；
or … for the matter of that … with anything that was fair of its
kind and really what it claimed to be。 Bullfinch doing me the
honour to respond in the affirmative； I agreed to ship myself as an
able trencherman on board the Temeraire。
'Now； our plan shall be this；' says Bullfinch； with his forefinger
at his nose。 'As soon as we get to Namelesston； we'll drive
straight to the Temeraire； and order a little dinner in an hour。
And as we shall not have more than enough time in which to dispose
of it comfortably； what do you say to giving the house the best
opportunities of serving it hot and quickly by dining in the
coffee…room？'
What I had to say was； Certainly。 Bullfinch （who is by nature of a
hopeful constitution） then began to babble of green geese。 But I
checked him in that Falstaffian vein； urging considerations of time
and cookery。
In due sequence of events we drove up to the Temeraire； and
alighted。 A youth in livery received us on the door…step。 'Looks
well；' said Bullfinch confidentially。 And then aloud； 'Coffee…
room！'
The youth in livery （now perceived to be mouldy） conducted us to
the desired haven； and was enjoined by Bullfinch to send the waiter
at once； as we wished to order a little dinner in an hour。 Then
Bullfinch and I waited for the waiter； until； the waiter continuing
to wait in some unknown and invisible sphere of action； we rang for
the waiter； which ring produced the waiter； who announced himself
as not the waiter who ought to wait upon us； and who didn't wait a
moment longer。
So Bullfinch approached the coffee…room door； and melodiously
pitching his voice into a bar where two young ladies were keeping
the books of the Temeraire； apologetically explained that we wished
to order a little dinner in an hour； and that we were debarred from
the execution of our inoffensive purpose by consignment to
solitude。
Hereupon one of the young ladies ran a bell； which reproduced … at
the bar this time … the waiter who was not the waiter who ought to
wait upon us； that extraordinary man； whose life seemed consumed in
waiting upon people to say that he wouldn't wait upon them；
repeated his former protest with great indignation； and retired。
Bullfinch； with a fallen countenance； was about to say to me； 'This
won't do；' when the waiter who ought to wait upon us left off
keeping us waiting at last。 'Waiter；' said Bullfinch piteously；
'we have been a long time waiting。' The waiter who ought to wait
upon us laid the blame upon the waiter who ought not to wait upon
us； and said it was all that waiter's fault。
'We wish；' said Bullfinch； much depressed； 'to order a little
dinner in an hour。 What can we have？'
'What would you like to have； gentlemen？'
Bullfinch； with extreme mournfulness of speech and action； and with
a forlorn old fly…blown bill of fare in his hand which the waiter
had given him； and which was a sort of general manuscript index to
any cookery…book you please； moved the previous question。
We could have mock…turtle soup； a sole； curry； and roast duck。
Agreed。 At this table by this window。 Punctually in an hour。
I had been feigning to look out of this window； but I had been
taking note of the crumbs on all the tables； the dirty table…
cloths； the stuffy； soupy； airless atmosphere； the stale leavings
everywhere about； the deep gloom of the waiter who ought to wait
upon us； and the stomach…ache with which a lonely traveller at a
distant table in a corner was too evidently afflicted。 I now
pointed out to Bullfinch the alarming circumstance that t