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cheeks； and a thin little person。
〃'Ow de do； Mr。 Sutherland？〃 said he； holding out his hand； as soon
as they had reached this retreat。
〃Thank youquite well；〃 answered Sutherland； shaking hands with him
as well as he could； the contact not being altogether pleasant。
〃So you want pupils； do you； sir？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Ah！ well you see； sir； pupils is scarce at this season。 They ain't
to be bought in every shopha！ ha！〃 （The laugh was very mild。） 〃But
I think Mrs。 Appleditch could find you one； if you could agree with
her about the charge； you know； and all that。〃
〃How old is he？ A boy； I suppose？〃
〃Well； you're right； sir。 It is a boy。 Not very old； though。 My
Samuel is just ten； but a wonderful forward boy for his yearsbless
him！〃
〃And what would you wish him to learn？〃
〃Oh！ Latin and Greek； and all that。 We intend bringing him up for
the ministry。I hope your opinions are decided； sir？〃
〃On some points； they are。 But I do not know to what you refer；
exactly。〃
〃I mean theological opinions； sir。〃
〃But I shall not have to teach your little boy theology。〃
〃Certainly not； sir。 That department belongs to his mother and I。
Unworthy vessels； sir； mere earthen vessels； but filled with the
grace of God； I hope； sir。〃
The grocer parted his hands； which he had been rubbing together
during this conversation； and lifted them upwards from the wrists；
like the fins of a seal； then； dropping them； fell to rubbing them
again。
〃I hope so。 Wellyou know the best way will be for menot knowing
your opinionsto avoid everything of a religious kind。〃
〃Ah！ but it should be line upon line； you know； here a little； and
there a little； sir。 As the bow is bent； you knowthehoop is
made； you know； sir。〃
Here Mr。 Appleditch stepped to the door suddenly； and peeped out； as
if he feared he was wanted； but presently returning； he continued：
〃But time's a precious gift； sir； and we must not waste it。 So； if
you'll do us the honour； sir； to dine with us next Lord's daywe
may call it a work of necessity； you knowyou will see the little
Samuel； andandMrs。 Appleditch。〃
〃I shall be very happy。 What is your address； Mr。 Appleditch？〃
〃You had better come to Salem Chapel； Dervish town； and we can go
home together。 Service commences at eleven。 Mrs。 Appleditch will
be glad to see you。 Ask for Mr。 Appleditch's pew。 Goo…ood morning；
sir。〃
Hugh took his leave； half inclined to send an excuse before the day
arrived； and decline the connection。 But his principle was； to take
whatever offered； and thus make way for the next thing。 Besides； he
thus avoided the responsibility of choice； from which he always
shrunk。
He returned to his novel； but； alas！ the inventive faculty
point…blank refused to work under the weight of such a Sunday in
prospect。 He wandered out； quite dispirited； but； before long； to
take his revenge upon circumstances； resolved at least to have a
dinner out of them。 So he went to a chop house； had a chop and a
glass of ale； and was astonished to find how much he enjoyed them。
In fact； abstinence gave his very plain dinner more than all the
charms of a feasta fact of which Hugh has not been the only
discoverer。 He studied Punch all the time he ate； and rose with his
spirits perfectly restored。
〃Now I am in for it；〃 said he； 〃I will be extravagant for once。〃 So
he went and bought a cigar； which he spun out into three miles of
smoke； as he wandered through Shoreditch； and Houndsditch； and
Petticoat…lane； gazing at the faces of his brothers and sisters；
which faces having been so many years wrapt in a fog both moral and
physical； now looked out of it as if they were only the condensed
nuclei of the same fog and filth。
As he was returning through Whitechapel； he passed a man on the
pavement； whose appearance was so remarkable that he could not help
looking back after him。 When he reflected about it； he thought that
it must have been a certain indescribable resemblance to David
Elginbrod that had so attracted him。 The man was very tall。
Six…foot。 Hugh felt dwarfed beside him； for he had to look right
up； as he passed； to see his face。 He was dressed in loose； shabby
black。 He had high and otherwise very marked features； and a dark
complexion。 A general carelessness of demeanour was strangely
combined with an expression of reposeful strength and quiet
concentration of will。 At how much of this conclusion Hugh arrived
after knowing more of him； I cannot tell； but such was the
description he gave of him as he saw him first： and it was
thoroughly correct。 His countenance always seemed to me （for I knew
him well） to represent a nature ever bent in one direction； but
never in haste； because never in doubt。
To carry his extravagance and dissipation still further； Hugh now
betook himself to the pit of the Olympic Theatre； and no one could
have laughed more heartily； or cried more helplessly； that night；
than he； for he gave himself wholly up to the influences of the
ruler of the hour； the admirable Robson。 But what was his surprise
when； standing up at the close of the first act； and looking around
and above him； he saw； unmistakeably； the same remarkable
countenance looking down upon him from the front row of the gallery。
He continued his circuit of observation； trying to discover the
face of Funkelstein in the boxes or circles； but involuntarily he
turned his gaze back to the strange countenance； which still seemed
bent towards his。 The curtain rose； and during the second act he
forgot all about everything else。 At its close he glanced up to the
gallery again； and there was the face still； and still looking at
him。 At the close of the third act it had vanished； and he saw
nothing more of it that evening。 When the after…piece was over； for
he sat it out； he walked quietly home； much refreshed。 He had
needed some relaxation； after many days of close and continuous
labour。
But awfully solemn was the face of good Miss Talbot； as she opened
the door for him at midnight。 Hugh took especial pains with his
boots and the door…mat； but it was of no use： the austerity of her
countenance would not relax in the least。 So he took his candle and
walked up…stairs to his room； saying only as he wentbeing unable
to think of anything else：
〃Good night； Miss Talbot。〃
But no response proceeded from the offended divinity of the place。
He went to bed； somewhat distressed at the behaviour of Miss Talbot；
for he had a weakness for being on good terms with everybody。 But
he resolved to have it out with her next morning； and so fell asleep
and dreamed of the strange man who had watched him at the theatre。
He rose next morning at the usual time。 But his breakfast was
delayed half an hour； and when it came； the maid waited upon him；
and not her mistress； as usual。 When he had finished； and she
returned to take away the ruins； he asked her to say to her mistress
that he wanted to speak to her。 She brought back a message； which
she delivered with some difficulty； and evidently under
compulsionthat if Mr。 Sutherland wanted to speak to her； he would
find her in the back parlour。 Hugh went down instantly； and found
Miss Talbot in a doubly frozen condition； her face absolutely blue
with physical and mental cold combined。 She waited for him to
speak。 Hugh began：
〃Miss Talbot； it seems something is wrong between you and me。〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃Is it because I was rather late last night。〃
〃Rather late； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
Miss Talbot showed no excitement。 With her； the thermometer； in
place of rising under the influence of irritation； steadily sank。
〃I cannot make myself a prisoner on parole； you know； Miss Talbot。
You must leave me my liberty。〃
〃Oh； yes； Mr。 Sutherland。 Take your liberty。 You'll go the way of
all the rest。 It's no use trying to save any of you。〃
〃But I'm not aware that I am in any particular want of saving； Miss
Talbot。〃
〃There it is！Well； till a sinner is called and awakened； of course
it's no use。 So I'll just do the best I can for you。 Who can tell
when the Spirit may be poured from on high？ But it's very sad to
me； Mr。 Sutherland； to see an amiable young man like you going the
way of transgressors； which is hard。 I am sorry for you； Mr。
Sutherland。〃
Though the ice was not gone yet； it had begun to melt under the
influences of Hugh's good…temper； and Miss Talbot's sympathy with
his threatening fate。 Conscience； too； had something to do with the
change； for； much as one of her temperament must have disliked
making such a confession； she ended by adding； after a pause：
〃And very sorry； Mr。 Sutherland； that I showed you any bad temper
last night。〃
Poor Miss Talbot！ Hugh saw that she was genuinely troubled about
him； and resolved to offend but seldom； while he was under her roof。
〃Perhaps； when you know me longer； you will find I am steadier than
you think。〃
〃Well； it may be。 But steadiness won't make a Christian of you。〃
〃It may make a tolerable lodger of me； though；〃 answered Hugh； 〃and
you wouldn't turn me into the street because I am steady and nothing
more； would you？〃
〃I said I was sorry； Mr。 Sutherland。 Do