I had no fear of going to bed
hungry that day; those times were over, God be praised! That was a
thing of the past, an evil dream. Henceforth, Excelsior!

But, in the meanwhile, the green blanket was a trouble to me. Neither
could I well make myself conspicuous by carrying such a thing about
right under people's eyes. What would any one think of me? And as I
went on I tried to think of a place where I could have it kept till
later on. It occurred to me that I might go into Semb's and get it
wrapped up in paper; not only would it look better, but I need no
longer be ashamed of carrying it.

I entered the shop, and stated my errand to one of the shop boys.

He looked first at the blanket, then at me. It struck me that he
shrugged his shoulders to himself a little contemptuously as he took
it; this annoyed me.

"Young man," I cried, "do be a little careful! There are two costly
glass vases in that; the parcel has to go to Smyrna."

This had a famous effect. The fellow apologized with every movement he
made for not having guessed that there was something out of the common
in this blanket. When he had finished packing it up I thanked him with
the air of a man who had sent precious goods to Smyrna before now. He
held the door open for me, and bowed twice as I left.

I began to wander about amongst the people in the market place, kept
from choice near the woman who had potted plants for sale. The heavy
crimson roses--the leaves of which glowed blood-like and moist in the
damp morning--made me envious, and tempted me sinfully to snatch one,
and I inquired the price of them merely as an excuse to approach as
near to them as possible.

If I had any money over I would buy one, no matter how things went;
indeed, I might well save a little now and then out of my way of living
to balance things again.

It was ten o'clock, and I went up to the newspaper office. "Scissors"
is running through a lot of old papers. The editor has not come yet. On
being asked my business, I delivered my weighty manuscript, lead him to
suppose that it is something of more than uncommon importance, and
impress upon his memory gravely that he is to give it into we editor's
own hands as soon as he arrives.

I would myself call later on in the day for an answer.

"All right," replied "Scissors," and busied himself again with his
papers.

It seemed to me that he treated the matter somewhat too coolly; but I
said nothing, only nodded rather carele