calling a servant,
sir,' I says.

"`I'm afraid my things have been very much neglected,' he says, and then
he asked, `What boots are those in a row?'

"`Some as I found in the closet, sir, all over mould.'

"`But they're not fit to wear, are they?'

"`Why not, sir?' I says. `Look here, sir, that chap as you've had here
ought to be flogged; I never see a gent's fit-out and accoutrements in
such a state.'

"`They have been terribly neglected, my man,' he says, `and I hope
you'll put 'em right.'

"`You trust me, sir,' I says, `and they shall be done proper, but it'll
take me weeks yet. Your linen's shameful.'

"`Then I must get some new things.'

"`What for, sir?' I says. `They're right enough. Leastwise, they will
be. You leave 'em to me, sir.'

"`I will, my man,' he says.

"And then he sits down and sighs. Ever heard him sigh, sir?"

"Yes, often, Jerry."

"An' he can sigh! `Tired, sir?' I says.

"`Yes, and low-spirited,' he says.

"I didn't say no more, but puts away the vest as I'd finished, all but
pressing it. Then I takes out my cloth, gets his pair of ivory-back
brushes, just takes off his dress-jacket, and puts the cloth round his
neck, sets him up a bit, and then I brushed his head for about ten
minutes--you know my way, sir?"

"Yes, Jerry; I recollect."

"And there he sat, with the wrinkles going out of his forrid, and a sort
o' baby-like smile coming all over his face.

"`Find it fresh'ning, sir?' I says.

"`Heavenly,' he says.

"`You want a good shampoo, sir,' I says. `There's a deal o' dandruff in
your head.'

"`That's what the hairdresser said,' says he, an' he sighs again.

"`Oh, yes; I know,' says I; `they allus do, and wants you to buy bottles
o' their tintry-cum-fuldicus. You leave it to me, sir. Little white o'
egg and borax, and a finish off with some good scented soap; and then if
anyone sees some o' that stuff in your head, sir, just you tell me.'

"He's a very nice gent, sir--I mean Dick; but the way he's been
neglected and preyed on by barbers and sich is shameful. Why, he's got
stuff enough in his quarters to stock a shop."

"Then you think you'll get on with him, Jerry?"

"Think? Not me! You ask him if he'll let me go, and you'll see. I
sent him out this morning pretty tidy to parade, quite early--and don't
he like you to dress him--and when he come back, looking done-up, I was
ready for him with a pick-me-up. You see there's a lot of him, and he