I soon saw that he did
not care for me any more, by Abednego's manner to me. No more holidays,
no more advances of money, had I: on the contrary, the private clerkship
at 150_l_. was abolished, and I found myself on my 250_l_. a year again.
Well, what then? it was always a good income, and I did my duty, and
laughed at the Director.

About this time, in the beginning of 1824, the Jamaica Ginger Beer
Company shut up shop--exploded, as Gus said, with a bang! The Patent
Pump shares were down to 15_l_. upon a paid-up capital of 65_l_. Still
ours were at a high premium; and the Independent West Diddlesex held its
head up as proudly as any office in London. Roundhand's abuse had had
some influence against the Director, certainly; for he hinted at
malversation of shares: but the Company still stood as united as the Hand-
in-Hand, and as firm as the Rock.

To return to the state of affairs in Bernard Street, Russell Square: my
aunt's old furniture crammed our little rooms; and my aunt's enormous old
jingling grand piano, with crooked legs and half the strings broken,
occupied three-fourths of the little drawing-room. Here used Mrs. H. to
sit, and play us, for hours, sonatas that were in fashion in Lord
Charleville's time; and sung with a cracked voice, till it was all that
we could do to refrain from laughing.

And it was queer to remark the change that had taken place in Mrs.
Hoggarty's character now: for whereas she was in the country among the
topping persons of the village, and quite content with a tea-party at six
and a game of twopenny whist afterwards,--in London she would never dine
till seven; would have a fly from the mews to drive in the Park twice a
week; cut and uncut, and ripped up and twisted over and over, all her old
gowns, flounces, caps, and fallals, and kept my poor Mary from morning
till night altering them to the present mode. Mrs. Hoggarty, moreover,
appeared in a new wig; and, I am sorry to say, turned out with such a
pair of red cheeks as Nature never gave her, and as made all the people
in Bernard Street stare, where they are not as yet used to such fashions.

Moreover, she insisted upon our establishing a servant in livery,--a boy,
that is, of about sixteen,--who was dressed in one of the old liveries
that she had brought with her from Somersetshire, decorated with new
cuffs and collars, and new buttons: on the latter were represented the
united crests of the Titmarshes and Hoggartys, viz., a