night, as Robinson had slowly walked
backwards and forwards across the bridge, ideas of suicide had
flitted across his mind. Should he not put an end to all this,--to
all this and so much else that harassed him and made life weary.
"''Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished,'" he said, as he looked
down into the dark river. And then he repeated a good deal more,
expressing his desire to sleep, but acknowledging that his dreams in
that strange bed might be the rub. "And thus 'calamity must still
live on,'" he said, as he went home to his lodgings.

Then came those arrangements as to the partnership and the house in
Bishopsgate Street, which have already been narrated. During the
weeks which produced these results, he frequently saw Maryanne in
Smithfield, but never spoke to her, except on the ordinary topics of
the day. In his demeanour he was courteous to her, but he never once
addressed her except as Miss Brown, and always with a politeness
which was as cold as it was studied. On one or two occasions he
thought that he observed in her manner something that showed a wish
for reconciliation; but still he said nothing to her. "She has
treated me like a dog," he said to himself, "and yet I love her. If
I tell her so, she will treat me worse than a dog." Then he heard,
also, that Brisket had declared more than once that he could not see
his way. "I could see mine," he said, "as though a star guided me,
if she should but stretch forth her hand to me and ask me to forgive
her."

It was some week or two after the deed of partnership had been
signed, and when the house at No. 81 had been just taken, that
Miss Twizzle came to Robinson. He was, at the moment, engaged in
composition for an illustrious house in the Minories that shall be
nameless; but he immediately gave his attention to Miss Twizzle,
though at the moment he was combating the difficulties of a rhyme
which it had been his duty to repeat nineteen times in the same poem.
"I think that will do," said he, as he wrote it down. "And yet it's
lame,--very lame:

But no lady ever loses
By going to the shop of--"

And then Miss Twizzle entered.

"I see you are engaged," said she, "and, perhaps, I had better call
another time."

"By no means, Miss Twizzle; pray be seated. How is everything going
on at the Hall of Harmony?"

"I haven't been there, Mr. Robinson, since that night as Mr. Brisket
did behave so bad. I got such a turn that night, as I can't end