his partner, he assumed a most lugubrious manner, and said:

"Dear lydie, would you kindly assist a pore decayed gent, what's got a
bedridden wife an' nine starvin' children, all twins? Just a copper,
lydie. The bailiffs is in, lydie, an' if I don't take 'orne nine-pence
for the rent they'll seize ther kerosene case, an' ther flour-sack, and
ther rest iv ther drorin-room furniture, kind lydie."

A gay vivandiere led Nickie to a portly Henry VIII. "Sire," she said,
"this poor man claims king's bounty for his three sets of triplets. I
humbly commend him to your majesty."

"Just a trifle to assist a poor man, kind gent," whined Nickie the Kid.
"Not a morsel iv turkey's passed me lips for seven days. Just a few
pence, sir, to buy champagne fer me widders and orphans. I don't care
about meself, kind sir."

King Henry promptly dropped half-a-crown into Nickie's hat. Two, or three
laughing guests standing about contributed silver. There was an
impression in the ballroom that the sum of the quaint tramp's collection
would go to a charity. None but Nickie himself knew the charitable object
to which the money was to be devoted.

Nickie danced with all sorts and conditions of women. Romeo slapped him
on the back.

"Splendid, deah boy!" he said. "We been thrown together, you know. Ran'
into you at the gate--what? By gad, you're doin it well. But I say, who
the devil are you?"

"I'm Willie' the Waster, kind young gentleman, and I'm residin' under No.
3 wharf, fifth plank from the corner. Would yer give er trifle towards me
time-payment furniture, please, sir."

Romeo contributed a shilling. "You're a sport," he said. "They're all on
to you. Dolly herself's delighted. Yes, you're right as rain for the
prize, but you might put me on--what?"

"I'm feather-legged Ned, with ther consumptive corf," said Nickie. "Would
you please give me a shillin' t' pay fer me medicine?"

"No, dash me if I do!" said Romeo, and he went off laughing.

Nickie took champagne with Sir Peter Teazie, Rip Van Winkle, Slender, and
Henry VIII., and under the influence of the good wine became more
audacious. He passed the hat with a characteristic complaint wherever a
few guests were assembled, and in view of the vast amusement he was
giving was allowed any license in reason. The offerings of the charitable
he deposited in the tail pocket of his coat, and presently the weight
dragged at him with a grateful pressure, and the silver clanked as he
walked.