Cradock Nowell, Vol. 2 (of 3)

and crawled in that fashion-wherein all fashion crawls-down the rough stairs, every one of them, if the young man would only have let him. We are just beginni

, we should now refer to our own reason what they said, before admiring it. For, af

as Issachar Jupp was, this fealty was not to be won by any of that paltry sentiment about birth, clanship, precedency, position, appearance, &c., which is our nati

orce of circumstances-which, in good English, means the want of money-sent Cradock Nowell once more cat?s–cradling throughout London, to answer adv

per to the Industrious Maiden, homeside of Nine Elms, as tight a barge as ever was built, and the name done in gold letters. Fact, I may say, and not tell no secrets; I be sa

ination; "I should like a trip into the country, if I could earn my wages as agent,

ch for him, even in Cradock?s presence; "I never yet kn

best of my experience. Perhaps because the s

o know London thoroughly; and that knowledge can only be acquired by perpetual walking. No man can be said to know London thoroughly, who does not know the suburbs also-who, if suddenly put down at the Elephant and Castle, or at Shoreditch Church, cannot tell exactly whither each of the six fingers points. Such knowledge very few m

the temporary terminus of the West London line. In a wooden box, with a kitchen behind it, he found Mr. Clinkers; who thought, when he saw Crad?s face, that he was come to give a large o

his, and I don?t fancy 'twould me either. Jenny! Jenny! Why, bless that gal; ever since my poor wife died,

. In the first place, I know nothing of Miss Jenny?s propensities;

ings by the sack, at the wharf or terminus, and sell them by the quarter hundred–weight, weight, at a profit of t

said to himself, "Pretty fellow to apply for a

ast, looking perfec

tle kettle; mind now, I tell you the little kettle. Can?t you understand, gal,

She heard that shaving joke every day, and, the more she heard it, the more she enjoyed it. So the British public, at a theatre, or an election, appreciates a

cing his raw material; "uncommon queer

d Cradock; "and now for

er lived out of a barge. You should see her when she gets along of some of them sma

ock; "unless I am much mistaken, s

went to and fro, and she kept up a constant grin wi

the spoon reeled round the brandy; "no business, if you please now, not a word of business t

inkers! What fiddle? I do

, except Jenny and the cookshop woman; and the latter have got encumbrances as qu

ter to bring things to a point. It was a good thing for him

kers, opening his eyes; "I?m blowed

not have thought that you would have known-I mean, I am surprise

me over again the fire, sir. Up wi

. You are very kind; but I s

now; though it?s a queer one for a Hoxford gent. 'Gent under a cloud,' thinks I, the moment I

uch knowledge as springs

nkers, and that sound wa

ast, for he had got this speech by heart now, "that I a

entford. Famous good company over a glass, when they drops their aristocraxy; they runs up a tick all over town, and leaves a Skye dog to pay for it; comes home about four in the morning, and don?t know the latc

you not only judge the present by the past, but you reason from the parti

inkers, who liked this outburst; "I?ll tell you just what it is. You Hoxfo

rs, who came to the door and looked after him, fearing to indulge his liking for that quee

to 50l. per annum, and 75l. would be a fortune. If I had only begun at that mark, I might have got something by this time. 'Vaulting ambition doth o?erleap itself.' And I might have emigrated-good Heavens! I might have emigrated upon the bounty of Uncle John, to some land where a man is worth more than the cattle of the field. Only Amy stopped me, only the thought of my Amy. Darling love, the sweetest angel-stop, I am so unlucky; if I begin to bless her, very likely she?ll get typhus fever.

r he had his only suit of clothes on. He had brought but one suit of his own; and all he had bought with th

re and noble gentleman; that was as clear as in the heyday of finest Oxford dandyism. Only he carried his head quite differently, and the tint of his cheeks was gone. H

the time Sir Cradock condemned his only son so cruelly, he had looked at him once, and read the sorrow so unmistakeable in his face, the

self would have done. Having no change of raiment-in plain English, only one pair of trousers-he should have gone to bed at once, or at any rate have pulled his wet clothes off. Instead of doing so, he sat and sat, with th

d not unkindly, can testify-that there is scarcely one in a dozen labourers, even around the metropolis, who respects himself and his calling. Whose fault this is, I pretend not-for pretence it would be-to say. Probably, the guilt is "much of a muchness," as in all mismanaged matters. The material was as good as our own; how has it got so vitiated? It is as lowering to us as it is to themselves, that the "enlightened working–men of England" cannot go out for their holiday, cannot come home from their work, cannot even speak among their own children, and

ry, promiscuous. Then he looked at his little roll of postage–stamps, and with shivering fingers affixed them. There were only fifteen; and it was too late to get any more that night; and he felt that he could not afford to use them now so rashly. So he ran out into the slushy streets, gamboged with London snow, and posted those fifteen of his letters which were the least ambitious

good evening?s work, and we?ll be very plucky for breakfast, girl, and have sixpencew

y the London allantopol?. This terror is the result for the most part of rustic sham knowingness, and the British lo

ough so patched and threadbare-and the iron cross–straps

ow pray what was the matter. Then she licked his face, and tried to warm him, in his broken slumbers. That day he had tak

tter, of doubtful classicality, and

members of the bone tons: was I agreeable to supply him? So I say, 'Certainly, by all means, if I see my way to my money.' And then he breaks out, in a manner as would frighten some hands, about the artlessness of the age, the suspiciousness of commercial gents, and confidence between man and man. 'Waste of time,' says I; 'coals is coals now, and none of them leaves this yard for nothing. Better keep that sort of stuff,' says I, 'for the green young gent from Hoxford as was here just now.' 'What,' says he, 'Hoxford man after a si

nd, and hope yo

Clinkers, and Co., Coal Merchants,

your own sacks, on th

another letter, far more elegant

thinks it might be worth Mr. Newman?s while to call upon him, Mr. H. W., at six o?clock this evening, supposing the post to do its duty, which it rarely does. Hear

.

on of Mr. Hearty Wibraham; as a gentleman, I mean. But for all that he may be an honest man. And beggars-as you know, Wena, dear, when you sit up so prettily-

which they sold for them-but her real object in going, was that she had made some nice acquaintances in the neighbourhood, whom she wanted to see again. She wouldn?t speak to any low dog, for she meant to keep up

not to notice them, but she lingered now and then at a

ster rang at the sprightly door, newly grained and varnished. Being inducted by a young woman, wit

requested to "take a seat, sir." The smart maid, who carried a candle, lit the gas in

perhaps to that extreme familiarity which breeds in a grocer contempt for fig

t Mr. Charles Newman, a member

eplied Cradock, very uncomfortable

favour, young gentleman, from the description I received of you from our mutual

, as I have only seen him once, it

ely upon first impressions, and they never deceive me. Now I see exactly what you a

s forehead, which was about

ean well, and perhaps you are nearer the truth than the people who have told me otherwise. Anyhow, i

it will hardly suit your purpose

arty enough I am, God knows; and perhaps a little too hearty. 'Hasty Wibraham, you ought to be cal

Cradock; "how can I pretend to

little capital? It is not at all essential

; "for my capital, like the new o

enuine spirit of commerce, no sum, howev

hen, is about twenty

p each other. That is why I can?t help liking you so. Thoroughly fine fellows," he added, in a loud aside, "thoroughly noble fellows, when a messmate is in trouble. Can?t ap

arty Wibraham, now about forty–five years old, was rather tall and portly, with an aquiline face, a dark complexion, and a quick, decisive manner. His clothes were well

ingle friend in the world to whom I would th

les, whatever they are. My good sir," he continued, aloud, "I will not utter any opinion, lest you should think me inclined to flatter-the last thing in the world

ged to you. Pra

I am just about to open, having formed a

e was, he would rather have had to d

s of a very peculiar character. In fact, it lies entirely in the very highest circles. To meet such customers as mine, not only a

f his qualities. "I should not be comfortable without telling you frankly that I am worth about half that yearl

ence. Say 125l.; and I shall work you pretty hard, I can tell you. For we do not confine our attention exclusively to the members of the Ministry, and the House of Lords; we also deal with the City

what to call it-"the office, the c

never do for a business of such a character. What do you think, sir, of How

radock; "but it sounds very we

ld be an accommodation to you, to have your salary paid weekly, until you draw by the quarte

shall never forget your kind c

during the forenoon, in promoting the interests of the business in a most important quarter. Now, be true to me, Newman-I take liberties, you see-keep your subordinates in their place, and make them stick to work, sir. And remember that

owing his shoulders back; "but we have not settled yet as to

incident. Thirty guineas, I think you said

I said twenty pou

t one which we dare not neglect. It is not a premium; simply a deposit; to be returned at the expiration of the first twelve m

ither can I by any means make it twenty–five guineas. I h

ll hold it as your trustee. But, for the sake of the books, merely to look well on th

w nothing about investment; and, after refle

e to make it twenty guineas. You said, I thi

to be sure. At any rate un

ou the twenty guineas. Next Mon

orm?s sake, it must be paid first. Let us say Saturday evening. I shall be ready wi

cordially, begging that mutual trust and amity might in no way be lessened

, and other baits still more savoury, upon which I dare not enlarge. But, just as Black George, having lifted her boldly by the nape of the neck, was popping her into the sack tail foremost, though her short tail was under her stomach, what did she do but twist round upon him, in a way quite unknown to the faculty, and make her upper and lower canines meet thro

re very tired, my darling; the pavement has been too much for you. Sit upon my arm, pretty. We are

og took the liberty of looking at him. And so they got home, singing snug little songs to each