wn close to my hand. Couldn't he
give me a couple of halfpence for them?--whatever he thought
himself--quite according to his own judgment. "For the buttons?"--and
"Uncle" stares astonishedly at me--"for these buttons?" Only for a
cigar or whatever he liked himself; I was just passing, and thought I
would look in.

Upon this, the old pawnbroker burst out laughing, and returned to his
desk without saying a word. There I stood; I had not hoped for much,
yet, all the same, I had thought of a possibility of being helped. This
laughter was my death-warrant. It couldn't, I suppose, be of any use
trying with my eyeglasses either? Of course, I would let my glasses go
in with them; that was a matter of course, said I, and I took them off.
Only a penny, or if he wished, a halfpenny.

"You know quite well I can't lend you anything on your glasses," said
"Uncle"; I told you that once before."

"But I want a stamp," I said, dully. "I can't even send off the letters
I have written; a penny or a halfpenny stamp, just as you will."

"Oh, God help you, go your way!" he replied, and motioned me off with
his hands.

Yes, yes; well, it must be so, I said to myself. Mechanically, I put on
my glasses again, took the buttons in my hand, and, turning away, bade
him good-night, and closed the door after me as usual. Well, now, there
was nothing more to be done! To think he would not take them at any
price, I muttered. They are almost new buttons; I can't understand it.

Whilst I stood, lost in thought, a man passed by and entered the
office. He had given me a little shove in his hurry. We both made
excuses, and I turned round and looked after him.

"What! is that you?" he said, suddenly, when half-way up the steps. He
came back, and I recognized him. "God bless me, man, what on earth do
you look like? What were you doing in there?"

"Oh, I had business. You are going in too, I see."

"Yes; what were you in with?"

My knees trembled; I supported myself against the wall, and stretched
out my hand with the buttons in it.

"What the deuce!" he cried. "No; this is really going too far."

"Good-night!" said I, and was about to go; I felt the tears choking my
breast.

"No; wait a minute," he said.

What was I to wait for? Was he not himself on the road to my "Uncle,"
bringing, perhaps, his engagement ring--had been hungry, perhaps, for
several days--owed his landlady?

"Yes," I replied; "if you will be out soon...."

"Of course,"