On the arm of her Fitzroy,Rosa went off to Fubsby's,that magnificent shop at the corner of Parliament Place and Alicompayne Square,--a shop into which the rogue had often cast a glance of approbation as he passed:for there are not only the most wonderful and delicious cakes and confections in the window,but at the counter there are almost sure to be three or four of the prettiest women in the whole of this world,with little darling caps of the last French make,with beautiful wavy hair,and the neatest possible waists and aprons.
Yes,there they sit;and others,perhaps,besides Fitz have cast a sheep's-eye through those enormous plate-glass windowpanes.Isuppose it is the fact of perpetually living among such a quantity of good things that makes those young ladies so beautiful.They come into the place,let us say,like ordinary people,and gradually grow handsomer and handsomer,until they grow out into the perfect angels you see.It can't be otherwise:if you and I,my dear fellow,were to have a course of that place,we should become beautiful too.They live in an atmosphere of the most delicious pine-apples,blanc-manges,creams,(some whipt,and some so good that of course they don't want whipping,)jellies,tipsy-cakes,cherry-brandy--one hundred thousand sweet and lovely things.
Look at the preserved fruits,look at the golden ginger,the outspreading ananas,the darling little rogues of China oranges,ranged in the gleaming crystal cylinders.Mon Dieu!Look at the strawberries in the leaves.Each of them is as large nearly as a lady's reticule,and looks as if it had been brought up in a nursery to itself.One of those strawberries is a meal for those young ladies,behind the counter;they nibble off a little from the side,and if they are very hungry,which can scarcely ever happen,they are allowed to go to the crystal canisters and take out a rout-cake or macaroon.In the evening they sit and tell each other little riddles out of the bonbons;and when they wish to amuse themselves,they read the most delightful remarks,in the French language,about Love,and Cupid,and Beauty,before they place them inside the crackers.They always are writing down good things into Mr.Fubsby's ledgers.It must be a perfect feast to read them.