Itisoneofmyfancies，thatevenmyidlestwalkmustalwayshaveitsappointeddestination。IsetmyselfataskbeforeIleavemylodginginCovent-gardenonastreetexpedition，andshouldnomorethinkofalteringmyroutebytheway，orturningbackandleavingapartofitunachieved，thanIshouldthinkoffraudulentlyviolatinganagreemententeredintowithsomebodyelse。Theotherday，findingmyselfunderthiskindofobligationtoproceedtoLimehouse，Istartedpunctuallyatnoon，incompliancewiththetermsofthecontractwithmyselftowhichmygoodfaithwaspledged。
Onsuchanoccasion，itismyhabittoregardmywalkasmybeat，andmyselfasahighersortofpolice-constabledoingdutyonthesame。ThereismanyaruffianinthestreetswhomImentallycollarandclearoutofthem，whowouldseemightylittleofLondon，Icantellhim，ifIcoulddealwithhimphysically。
Issuingforthuponthisverybeat，andfollowingwithmyeyesthreehulkinggarrottersontheirwayhome，-whichhomeIcouldconfidentlysweartobewithinsomanyyardsofDrury-lane，insuchanarrowandrestricteddirectionthoughtheyliveintheirlodgingquiteasundisturbedasIinmine，-IwentondutywithaconsiderationwhichIrespectfullyoffertothenewChiefCommissioner，-inwhomIthoroughlyconfideasatriedandefficientpublicservant。HowoftenthoughtIhaveIbeenforcedtoswallow，inpolice-reports，theintolerablestereotypedpillofnonsense，howthatthepolice-constableinformedtheworthymagistratehowthattheassociatesoftheprisonerdid，atthatpresentspeaking，dwellinastreetorcourtwhichnomandaredgodown，andhowthattheworthymagistratehadheardofthedarkreputationofsuchstreetorcourt，andhowthatourreaderswoulddoubtlessrememberthatitwasalwaysthesamestreetorcourtwhichwasthusedifyinglydiscoursedabout，sayonceafortnight。
Now，supposethataChiefCommissionersentroundacirculartoeverydivisionofpoliceemployedinLondon，requiringinstantlythenamesinalldistrictsofallsuchmuch-puffedstreetsorcourtswhichnomandurstgodown；andsupposethatinsuchcircularhegaveplainwarning，’Ifthoseplacesreallyexist，theyareaproofofpoliceinefficiencywhichImeantopunish；andiftheydonotexist，butareaconventionalfiction，thentheyareaproofoflazytacitpoliceconnivancewithprofessionalcrime，whichIalsomeantopunish’-whatthen？Fictionsorrealities，couldtheysurvivethetouchstoneofthisatomofcommonsense？Totellusinopencourt，untilithasbecomeastriteafeatureofnewsasthegreatgooseberry，thatacostlypolice-systemsuchaswasneverbeforeheardof，hasleftinLondon，inthedaysofsteamandgasandphotographsofthievesandelectrictelegraphs，thesanctuariesandstewsoftheStuarts！Why，aparityofpractice，inalldepartments，wouldbringbackthePlagueintwosummers，andtheDruidsinacentury！
Walkingfasterundermyshareofthispublicinjury，Ioverturnedawretchedlittlecreature，who，clutchingattheragsofapairoftrouserswithoneofitsclaws，andatitsraggedhairwiththeother，patteredwithbarefeetoverthemuddystones。Istoppedtoraiseandsuccourthispoorweepingwretch，andfiftylikeit，butofbothsexes，wereaboutmeinamoment，begging，tumbling，fighting，clamouring，yelling，shiveringintheirnakednessandhunger。ThepieceofmoneyIhadputintotheclawofthechildI
hadover-turnedwasclawedoutofit，andwasagainclawedoutofthatwolfishgripe，andagainoutofthat，andsoonIhadnonotioninwhatpartoftheobscenescuffleinthemud，ofragsandlegsandarmsanddirt，themoneymightbe。Inraisingthechild，Ihaddrawnitasideoutofthemainthoroughfare，andthistookplaceamongsomewoodenhoardingsandbarriersandruinsofdemolishedbuildings，hardbyTempleBar。
Unexpectedly，fromamongthememergedagenuinepolice-constable，beforewhomthedreadfulbrooddispersedinvariousdirections，hemakingfeintsanddartsinthisdirectionandinthat，andcatchingnothing。Whenallwerefrightenedaway，hetookoffhishat，pulledoutahandkerchieffromit，wipedhisheatedbrow，andrestoredthehandkerchiefandhattotheirplaces，withtheairofamanwhohaddischargedagreatmoralduty，-asindeedhehad，indoingwhatwassetdownforhim。Ilookedathim，andIlookedaboutatthedisorderlytracesinthemud，andIthoughtofthedropsofrainandthefootprintsofanextinctcreature，hoaryagesuponagesold，thatgeologistshaveidentifiedonthefaceofacliff；andthisspeculationcameoverme:Ifthismudcouldpetrifyatthismoment，andcouldlieconcealedherefortenthousandyears，Iwonderwhethertheraceofmenthentobeoursuccessorsontheearthcould，fromtheseoranymarks，bytheutmostforceofthehumanintellect，unassistedbytradition，deducesuchanastoundinginferenceastheexistenceofapolishedstateofsocietythatborewiththepublicsavageryofneglectedchildreninthestreetsofitscapitalcity，andwasproudofitspowerbyseaandland，andneveruseditspowertoseizeandsavethem！
Afterthis，whenIcametotheOldBaileyandglancedupittowardsNewgate，Ifoundthattheprisonhadaninconsistentlook。Thereseemedtobesomeunluckyinconsistencyintheatmospherethatday；
forthoughtheproportionsofSt。Paul’sCathedralareverybeautiful，ithadanairofbeingsomewhatoutofdrawing，inmyeyes。Ifeltasthoughthecrossweretoohighup，andperchedupontheinterveninggoldenballtoofaraway。
Facingeastward，IleftbehindmeSmithfieldandOldBailey，-fireandfaggot，condemnedhold，publichanging，whippingthroughthecityatthecart-tail，pillory，branding-iron，andotherbeautifulancestrallandmarks，whichrudehandshaverootedup，withoutbringingthestarsquitedownuponusasyet，-andwentmywayuponmybeat，notinghowoddlycharacteristicneighbourhoodsaredividedfromoneanother，hereabout，asthoughbyaninvisiblelineacrosstheway。Hereshallceasethebankersandthemoney-
changers；hereshallbegintheshippinginterestandthenautical-
instrumentshops；hereshallfollowascarcelyperceptibleflavouringofgroceriesanddrugs；hereshallcomeastronginfusionofbutchers；now，smallhosiersshallbeintheascendant；
henceforth，everythingexposedforsaleshallhaveitsticketedpriceattached。Allthisasifspeciallyorderedandappointed。
AsinglestrideatHoundsditchChurch，nowiderthansufficedtocrossthekennelatthebottomoftheCanon-gate，whichthedebtorsinHolyroodsanctuarywerewonttorelievetheirmindsbyskippingover，asScottrelates，andstandingindelightfuldaringofcatchpolesonthefreeside，-asinglestride，andeverythingisentirelychangedingrainandcharacter。Westofthestride，atable，orachestofdrawersonsale，shallbeofmahoganyandFrench-polished；eastofthestride，itshallbeofdeal，smearedwithacheapcounterfeitresemblinglip-salve。Westofthestride，apennyloaforbunshallbecompactandself-contained；eastofthestride，itshallbeofasprawlingandsplay-footedcharacter，asseekingtomakemoreofitselfforthemoney。MybeatlyingroundbyWhitechapelChurch，andtheadjacentsugar-refineries，-
greatbuildings，tierupontier，thathavetheappearanceofbeingnearlyrelatedtothedock-warehousesatLiverpool，-Iturnedofftomyright，and，passingroundtheawkwardcorneronmyleft，camesuddenlyonanapparitionfamiliartoLondonstreetsafaroff。
WhatLondonperipateticofthesetimeshasnotseenthewomanwhohasfallenforward，double，throughsomeaffectionofthespine，andwhoseheadhasoflatetakenaturntooneside，sothatitnowdroopsoverthebackofoneofherarmsataboutthewrist？Whodoesnotknowherstaff，andhershawl，andherbasket，asshegropesherwayalong，capableofseeingnothingbutthepavement，neverbegging，neverstopping，forevergoingsomewhereonnobusiness？Howdoesshelive，whencedoesshecome，whitherdoesshego，andwhy？Imindthetimewhenheryellowarmswerenaughtbutboneandparchment。Slightchangesstealoverher；forthereisashadowysuggestionofhumanskinonthemnow。TheStrandmaybetakenasthecentralpointaboutwhichsherevolvesinahalf-
mileorbit。Howcomesshesofareastasthis？Andcomingbacktoo！Havingbeenhowmuchfarther？Sheisararespectacleinthisneighbourhood。Ireceiveintelligentinformationtothiseffectfromadog-alop-sidedmongrelwithafoolishtail，ploddingalongwithhistailup，andhisearspricked，anddisplayinganamiableinterestinthewaysofhisfellow-men，-ifImaybeallowedtheexpression。Afterpausingatapork-shop，heisjoggingeastwardlikemyself，withabenevolentcountenanceandawaterymouth，asthoughmusingonthemanyexcellencesofpork，whenhebeholdsthisdoubled-upbundleapproaching。Heisnotsomuchastonishedatthebundlethoughamazedbythat，asthecircumstancethatithaswithinitselfthemeansoflocomotion。Hestops，prickshisearshigher，makesaslightpoint，stares，uttersashort，lowgrowl，andglistensatthenose，-asIconceivewithterror。Thebundlecontinuingtoapproach，hebarks，turnstail，andisabouttofly，when，arguingwithhimselfthatflightisnotbecominginadog，heturns，andoncemorefacestheadvancingheapofclothes。Aftermuchhesitation，itoccurstohimthattheremaybeafaceinitsomewhere。Desperatelyresolvingtoundertaketheadventure，andpursuetheinquiry，hegoesslowlyuptothebundle，goesslowlyroundit，andcomingatlengthuponthehumancountenancedowntherewhereneverhumancountenanceshouldbe，givesayelpofhorror，andfliesfortheEastIndiaDocks。
BeingnowintheCommercialRoaddistrictofmybeat，andbethinkingmyselfthatStepneyStationisnear，IquickenmypacethatImayturnoutoftheroadatthatpoint，andseehowmysmalleasternstarisshining。
TheChildren’sHospital，towhichIgavethatname，isinfullforce。Allitsbedsareoccupied。Thereisanewfaceonthebedwheremyprettybabylay，andthatsweetlittlechildisnowatrestforever。Muchkindsympathyhasbeenheresincemyformervisit，anditisgoodtoseethewallsprofuselygarnishedwithdolls。IwonderwhatPoodlesmaythinkofthem，astheystretchouttheirarmsabovethebeds，andstare，anddisplaytheirsplendiddresses。Poodleshasagreaterinterestinthepatients。
Ifindhimmakingtheroundofthebeds，likeahouse-surgeon，attendedbyanotherdog，-afriend，-whoappearstotrotaboutwithhiminthecharacterofhispupildresser。Poodlesisanxioustomakemeknowntoaprettylittlegirllookingwonderfullyhealthy，whohadhadalegtakenoffforcanceroftheknee。A
difficultoperation，Poodlesintimates，wagginghistailonthecounterpane，butperfectlysuccessful，asyousee，dearsir！Thepatient，pattingPoodles，addswithasmile，’Thelegwassomuchtroubletome，thatIamgladit’sgone。’IneversawanythingindoggeryfinerthanthedeportmentofPoodles，whenanotherlittlegirlopenshermouthtoshowapeculiarenlargementofthetongue。
Poodlesatthattimeonatable，tobeonalevelwiththeoccasionlooksatthetonguewithhisownsympatheticallyoutsoverygravelyandknowingly，thatIfeelinclinedtoputmyhandinmywaistcoat-pocket，andgivehimaguinea，wrappedinpaper。
Onmybeatagain，andclosetoLimehouseChurch，itstermination，I
foundmyselfneartocertain’Lead-Mills。’Struckbythename，whichwasfreshinmymemory，andfinding，oninquiry，thatthesesamelead-millswereidentifiedwiththosesamelead-millsofwhichImadementionwhenIfirstvisitedtheEastLondonChildren’sHospitalanditsneighbourhoodasUncommercialTraveller，I
resolvedtohavealookatthem。