After passing the Downs the weather was misty & the country looked very damp & threadbare - We arrived quite safe in London & found the vehicle & James waiting for us. The town looked ….. dirty & smokey & ….. one so ugly & dirty. We went to Miss Savages in Holles Street to order our ball dresses & agreed to come Saturday & try them on. We arrived at home between 3 & 4 o'clock found dear Lu quite well - Papa with a bad cold he caught the other night when wonderful to say he went to hear the new opera. The house Holles Street Picture credit: Illustrated London News, 1888 In the 1840s Holles Street would have been made up of small shops and houses, the street is now almost entirely taken up by John Lewis Department Store on the western side.