ed in grim repose, did wait her morning prey."

My opinions as to her sufferings and the virtues of the departed Ho-tons
somewhat modified, I contented myself with dropping into her open palm
the exact sum virtually agreed on. But that palm still remained open,
and the fingers of the other clawed hold of me as I stood, impounded in
the curve of the turn-stile, like a cork in a patent corkscrew.

"And threepence for nephy Bob," said the old lady.

"Threepence for nephew Bob, and why?"

"It is his parquisites when he recommends a gentleman. You would not
have me pay out of my own earnings; for he will have it, or he'll ruin
my bizziness. Poor folk must be paid for their trouble."

Obdurate to this appeal, and mentally consigning Bob to a master whose
feet would be all the handsomer for boots, I threaded the stile and
escaped.

Towards evening I reached London. Who ever saw London for the first time
and was not disappointed? Those long suburbs melting indefinably
away into the capital forbid all surprise. The gradual is a great
disenchanter. I thought it prudent to take a hackney-coach, and so
jolted my way to the Hotel, the door of which was in a small street out
of the Strand, though the greater part of the building faced that noisy
thoroughfare. I found my father in a state of great discomfort in a
little room, which he paced up and down like a lion new caught in his
cage. My poor mother was full of complaints: for the first time in her
life, I found her indisputably crossish. It was an ill time to relate my
adventures.

I had enough to do to listen. They had all day been hunting for lodgings
in vain. My father's pocket had been picked of a new India handkerchief.
Primmins, who ought to know London so well, knew nothing about it, and
declared it was turned topsy-turvy, and all the streets had changed
names. The new silk umbrella, left for five minutes unguarded in the
hall, had been exchanged for an old gingham with three holes in it.

It was not till my mother remembered that if she did not see herself
that my bed was well aired I should certainly lose the use of my limbs,
and therefore disappeared with Primmins and a pert chambermaid, who
seemed to think we gave more trouble than we were worth, that I told my
father of my new acquaintance with Mr. Trevanion.

He did not seem to listen to me till I got to the name "Trevanion." He
then became very pale, and sat down quietly. "Go on," said he, observing
I stopp