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it stood； of an imposing frontage； and flanked on either side
by family hatchments。 His eye； from where he stood whistling
in the key； with his back to the garden railings； reposed on
every feature of reality； and yet his own possession seemed
as flimsy as a dream。
In the course of a few days； the genteel inhabitants of the
square began to remark the customs of their neighbour。 The
sight of a young gentleman discussing a clay pipe； about four
o'clock of the afternoon； in the drawing…room balcony of so
discreet a mansion； and perhaps still more； his periodical
excursion to a decent tavern in the neighbourhood； and his
unabashed return； nursing the full tankard： had presently
raised to a high pitch the interest and indignation of the
liveried servants of the square。 The disfavour of some of
these gentlemen at first proceeded to the length of insult；
but Somerset knew how to be affable with any class of men；
and a few rude words merrily accepted； and a few glasses
amicably shared； gained for him the right of toleration。
The young man had embraced the art of Raphael； partly from a
notion of its ease； partly from an inborn distrust of
offices。 He scorned to bear the yoke of any regular
schooling； and proceeded to turn one half of the dining…room
into a studio for the reproduction of still life。 There he
amassed a variety of objects； indiscriminately chosen from
the kitchen； the drawing…room； and the back garden； and there
spent his days in smiling assiduity。 Meantime； the great
bulk of empty building overhead lay； like a load； upon his
imagination。 To hold so great a stake and to do nothing；
argued some defect of energy； and he at length determined to
act upon the hint given by Mrs。 Luxmore herself； and to
stick； with wafers； in the window of the dining…room； a small
handbill announcing furnished lodgings。 At half…past six of
a fine July morning； he affixed the bill； and went forth into
the square to study the result。 It seemed； to his eye；
promising and unpretentious； and he returned to the drawing…
room balcony； to consider； over a studious pipe； the knotty
problem of how much he was to charge。
Thereupon he somewhat relaxed in his devotion to the art of
painting。 Indeed； from that time forth； he would spend the
best part of the day in the front balcony； like the attentive
angler poring on his float； and the better to support the
tedium； he would frequently console himself with his clay
pipe。 On several occasions； passers…by appeared to be
arrested by the ticket； and on several others ladies and
gentlemen drove to the very doorstep by the carriageful； but
it appeared there was something repulsive in the appearance
of the house； for with one accord； they would cast but one
look upward； and hastily resume their onward progress or
direct the driver to proceed。 Somerset had thus the
mortification of actually meeting the eye of a large number
of lodging…seekers； and though he hastened to withdraw his
pipe； and to compose his features to an air of invitation； he
was never rewarded by so much as an inquiry。 'Can there；' he
thought； 'be anything repellent in myself？' But a candid
examination in one of the pier…glasses of the drawing…room
led him to dismiss the fear。
Something； however； was amiss。 His vast and accurate
calculations on the fly…leaves of books； or on the backs of
playbills； appeared to have been an idle sacrifice of time。
By these； he had variously computed the weekly takings of the
house； from sums as modest as five…and…twenty shillings； up
to the more majestic figure of a hundred pounds； and yet； in
despite of the very elements of arithmetic； here he was
making literally nothing。
This incongruity impressed him deeply and occupied his
thoughtful leisure on the balcony； and at last it seemed to
him that he had detected the error of his method。 'This；' he
reflected； 'is an age of generous display： the age of the
sandwich…man； of Griffiths； of Pears' legendary soap； and of
Eno's fruit salt； which； by sheer brass and notoriety； and
the most disgusting pictures I ever remember to have seen；
has overlaid that comforter of my childhood； Lamplough's
pyretic saline。 Lamplough was genteel； Eno was omnipresent；
Lamplough was trite； Eno original and abominably vulgar； and
here have I； a man of some pretensions to knowledge of the
world； contented myself with half a sheet of note…paper； a
few cold words which do not directly address the imagination；
and the adornment （if adornment it may be called） of four red
wafers！ Am I； then； to sink with Lamplough； or to soar with
Eno？ Am I to adopt that modesty which is doubtless becoming
in a duke？ or to take hold of the red facts of life with the
emphasis of the tradesman and the poet？'
Pursuant upon these meditations； he procured several sheets
of the very largest size of drawing…paper； and laying forth
his paints； proceeded to compose an ensign that might attract
the eye； and at the same time； in his own phrase； directly
address the imagination of the passenger。 Something taking
in the way of colour； a good； savoury choice of words； and a
realistic design setting forth the life a lodger might expect
to lead within the walls of that palace of delight： these；
he perceived； must be the elements of his advertisement。 It
was possible； upon the one hand； to depict the sober
pleasures of domestic life； the evening fire； blond…headed
urchins and the hissing urn； but on the other； it was
possible （and he almost felt as if it were more suited to his
muse） to set forth the charms of an existence somewhat wider
in its range or； boldly say； the paradise of the Mohammedan。
So long did the artist waver between these two views； that；
before he arrived at a conclusion； he had finally conceived
and completed both designs。 With the proverbially tender
heart of the parent； he found himself unable to sacrifice
either of these offsprings of his art； and decided to expose
them on alternate days。 'In this way；' he thought； 'I shall
address myself indifferently to all classes of the world。'
The tossing of a penny decided the only remaining point； and
the more imaginative canvas received the suffrages of
fortune； and appeared first in the window of the mansion。 It
was of a high fancy； the legend eloquently writ； the scheme
of colour taking and bold； and but for the imperfection of
the artist's drawing； it might have been taken for a model of
its kind。 As it was； however； when viewed from his favourite
point against the garden railings； and with some touch of
distance； it caused a pleasurable rising of the artist's
heart。 'I have thrown away；' he ejaculated； 'an invaluable
motive； and this shall be the subject of my first academy
picture。'
The fate of neither of these works was equal to its merit。 A
crowd would certainly； from time to time； collect before the
area…railings； but they came to jeer and not to speculate；
and those who pushed their inquiries further； were too
plainly animated by the spirit of derision。 The racier of
the two cartoons di