he hall bedroom over mine,"
suggested the signor.

Mrs. Schlessinger toiled up another staircase, the two new acquaintances
following her. She threw open the door of one of those depressing cells
known in New York as a hall bedroom. It was about five feet wide and
eight feet long, and was nearly filled up by a cheap bedstead, covered
by a bed about two inches thick, and surmounted at the head by a
consumptive-looking pillow. The paper was torn from the walls in places.
There was one rickety chair, and a wash-stand which bore marks of
extreme antiquity.

"This is a very neat room for a single gentleman," remarked Mrs.
Schlessinger.

Phil's spirits fell as he surveyed what was to be his future home. It
was a sad contrast to his neat, comfortable room at home.

"Is this room like yours, Signor Orlando?" he asked faintly.

"As like as two peas," answered Orlando.

"Would you recommend me to take it?"

"You couldn't do better."

How could the signor answer otherwise in presence of a landlady to whom
he owed two weeks' rent?

"Then," said Phil, with a secret shudder, "I'll take it if the rent is
satisfactory."

"A dollar and a quarter a week," said Mrs. Schlessinger promptly.

"I'll take it for a week."

"You won't mind paying in advance?" suggested the landlady. "I pay my
own rent in advance."

Phil's answer was to draw a dollar and a quarter from his purse and pass
it to his landlady.

"I'll take possession now," said our hero. "Can I have some water to
wash my face?"

Mrs. Schlessinger was evidently surprised that any one should want to
wash in the middle of the day, but made no objections.

When Phil had washed his face and hands, he went out with Signor Orlando
to dine at a restaurant on the Bowery.

CHAPTER VII.

BOWERMAN'S VARIETIES.

The restaurant to which he was taken by Signor Orlando was thronged with
patrons, for it was one o'clock. On the whole, they did not appear
to belong to the highest social rank, though they were doubtless
respectable. The table-cloths were generally soiled, and the waiters had
a greasy look. Phil said nothing, but he did not feel quite so hungry as
before he entered.

The signor found two places at one of the tables, and they sat down.
Phil examined a greasy bill of fare and found that he could obtain a
plate of meat for ten cents. This included bread and butter, and a dish
of mashed potato. A cup of tea would be five cents additional.

"I can afford fift