I stood
for a moment to look, I could almost have believed that the sleeping
figure there, with all his vulgarity and dishonesty, had as good a title
to call himself Jack Smith's friend as I had.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

HOW I GAVE A LITTLE SUPPER TO SOME OF MY FRIENDS.

The idea of giving a party of my own to my new friends, in return for
their hospitality to me, was not by any means a new one. It had been
simmering in my mind for some weeks past. Indeed, ever since I began to
be invited out, the thought that I could not return the compliment had
always been a drawback to my pleasure.

But there had always been two obstacles in the way of carrying out my
wish. The first was lack of funds, the second was Mrs Nash. On eight
shillings a week I had come to the conclusion it was out of the question
to dream of giving a party to eight persons. By the most modest
calculation I couldn't possibly do the thing decently under a shilling a
head. It was true I had my uncle's half-sovereign in my pocket still.
I might, I reflected, borrow that, and pay it back by weekly
instalments. But somehow I didn't like the idea quite, and never
brought myself to the point of carrying it into effect. Now, however,
with the sudden rise in my fortunes recorded in the last chapter, the
financial obstacle to my hospitality was quite swept away. I had only
to take the extra four shillings a week for two weeks--and the thing was
done!

So the idea no longer simmered in my mind--it boiled; and I was
determined for once in a way to astonish my friends.

But though one obstacle had vanished, the other remained. What would
Mrs Nash say? For, much as I disliked it, I was forced to face the
fact that my party, if I gave it, would have to come off in Beadle
Square. I had half thought of borrowing Flanagan's room for the
occasion, but didn't like to ask him; besides, if I did, it would have
to be half his party and half mine, which wasn't at all my idea. Then
it occurred to me, should I take lodgings for a week and give it there?
No, it would cost too much even for twelve shillings a week; and my
uncle, if he heard of it, might stop my keep at Mrs Nash's. Suppose I
hired a room at an hotel for the evening, and asked the fellows there?
It wasn't a bad idea, and would probably only cost me half a week's
wages. But the worst of it is, if you ask fellows to dine with you at
an hotel, they are sure to come expecting a grand turn out; and I