ard, and he
appeared to owe his complexion less to nature than carmine; in fact, in
every respect, a very queer figure.

'One-and-ninepence, sir, or your things will be taken away from you!' he
said, in a kind of lisping tone, coming yet nearer to me.

I still remained staring fixedly at him, but never a word answered. Our
eyes met; whereupon he suddenly lost the easy impudent air which he
before wore. He glanced, for a moment, at my fist, which I had by this
time clenched, and his features became yet more haggard; he faltered; a
fresh 'one-and-ninepence,' which he was about to utter, died on his lips;
he shrank back, disappeared behind a coach, and I saw no more of him.

'One-and-ninepence, or my things will be taken away from me!' said I to
myself, musingly, as I followed the porter to whom I had delivered my
scanty baggage; 'am I to expect many of these greetings in the big world?
Well, never mind! I think I know the counter-sign!' And I clenched my
fist yet harder than before.

So I followed the porter, through the streets of London, to a lodging
which had been prepared for me by an acquaintance. The morning, as I
have before said, was gloomy, and the streets through which I passed were
dank and filthy; the people, also, looked dank and filthy; and so,
probably, did I, for the night had been rainy, and I had come upwards of
a hundred miles on the top of a coach; my heart had sank within me, by
the time we reached a dark narrow street, in which was the lodging.

'Cheer up, young man,' said the porter, 'we shall have a fine afternoon!'

And presently I found myself in the lodging which had been prepared for
me. It consisted of a small room, up two pair of stairs, in which I was
to sit, and another still smaller above it, in which I was to sleep. I
remember that I sat down, and looked disconsolate about me--everything
seemed so cold and dingy. Yet how little is required to make a
situation--however cheerless at first sight--cheerful and comfortable.
The people of the house, who looked kindly upon me, lighted a fire in the
dingy grate; and, then, what a change!--the dingy room seemed dingy no
more! Oh the luxury of a cheerful fire after a chill night's journey! I
drew near to the blazing grate, rubbed my hands, and felt glad.

And, when I had warmed myself, I turned to the table, on which, by this
time, the people of the house had placed my breakfast; and I ate, and I
drank; and, as I ate and drank, I mu