youth. He was a
first-rate workman and received high wages; he had availed himself of
the advantages of the factory school; he soon learnt to read and write
with facility, and at the moment of our history, was the leading spirit
of the Shoddy-Court Literary and Scientific Institute. His great friend,
his only intimate, was Dandy Mick. The apparent contrariety of their
qualities and structure perhaps led to this. It is indeed the most
assured basis of friendship. Devilsdust was dark and melancholy;
ambitious and discontented; full of thought, and with powers of patience
and perseverance that alone amounted to genius. Mick was as brilliant as
his complexion; gay, irritable, evanescent, and unstable. Mick enjoyed
life; his friend only endured it; yet Mick was always complaining of
the lowness of his wages and the greatness of his toil; while Devilsdust
never murmured, but read and pondered on the rights of labour, and
sighed to vindicate his order.

"I have some thoughts of joining the Total Abstinence," said Devilsdust;
"ever since I read Stephen Morley's address it has been in my mind.
We shall never get our rights till we leave off consuming exciseable
articles; and the best thing to begin with is liquors."

"Well, I could do without liquors myself," said Caroline. "If I was a
lady, I would never drink anything except fresh milk from the cow."

"Tea for my money," said Harriet; "I must say there's nothing I grudge
for good tea. Now I keep house, I mean always to drink the best."

"Well, you have not yet taken the pledge, Dusty," said Mick: "and so
suppose we order a go of gin and talk this matter of temperance over."

Devilsdust was manageable in little things, especially by Mick; he
acceded, and seated himself at their table.

"I suppose you have heard this last dodge of Shuffle and Screw, Dusty,"
said Mick.

"What's that?"

"Every man had his key given him this evening--half-a-crown a week round
deducted from wages for rent. Jim Plastow told them he lodged with his
father and didn't want a house; upon which they said he must let it."

"Their day will come," said Devilsdust, thoughtfully. "I really think
that those Shuffle and Screws are worse even than Truck and Trett. You
knew where you were with those fellows; it was five-and-twenty per cent,
off wages and very bad stuff for your money. But as for Shuffle and
Screw, what with their fines and their keys, a man never knows what
he has to spend. Come," he add