Number One Or the Way of the World

feel any concern for the mishap, beyond a desire to make compensation for the same. The award of a shilling at once elicited from my abuser the consolatory declaration that "ajintleman always acts as sich." From this point, all, at present, went smooth. I thought the streets, the people, and everything I passed, looked brighter and better than they had ever looked before?brighter at least, than they appeared during my three weeks' search for what I had now secured. Even Kitty, the dirty little maid who opened the door at my lodgings, became an attractive object; and although I had never exchanged words with the girl, except on some domestic subject similar to that of the " beans and bacon," yet, on this occasion I remember to have said, " well, Kitty, I've got a situation at last." When a night's repose had calmed the excitement of the preceding day, I found time to discover a few of the immediate wants occasioned by success. The chief of these was a desire to leave for ever the lodging in which my hourly fear was that of having again to encounter, either in kindness or anger, alandlady whose character was altogether beyond my power of comprehension. Fifteen days had .to expire to bring the first of the ensuing month?the time appointed for the opening of my commercial duties. I had only four shillings to offer Mrs. Pepper in part payment of six shillings and sixpence, now due for a week's lodging. After this lady's unpalatable accusation concerning my breakfast, and...