I found that I had
over-estimated the cost of furnishing, for the total
expense was little more than three pounds. We walked
round to Oakley Villa, and I proudly deposited all my
goods in the hall. And here came another extraordinary
example of the kindness of the poorer classes. The
porter when I had paid him went out to his trolly and
returned with a huge mat of oakum, as ugly a thing as I
have ever set eyes upon. This he laid down inside my
door, and then without a word, brushing aside every
remonstrance or attempt at thanks, he vanished away with
his trolly into the night.
Next morning I came round to my house--MY house,
my boy!--for good and all, after paying off my landlady.
Her bill came to more than I expected, for I only had
breakfast and tea, always "dining out" as I majestically
expressed it. However, it was a relief to me to get it
settled, and to go round with my box to Oakley Villas.
An ironmonger had fixed my plate on to the railings for
half-a-crown the evening before, and there it was,
glittering in the sun, when I came round. It made
me quite shy to look at it, and I slunk into the house
with a feeling that every window in the street had a face
in it.
But once inside, there was so much to be done that
I did not know what I should turn to first. I bought a
one-and-ninepenny broom and set to work. You notice that
I am precise about small sums, because just there lies
the whole key of the situation.
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