Then he returned to sausages and
mashed potatoes. Then he confined himself entirely to mashed potatoes for a
day, and was unhappy because of pain in his inside. Then he pawned his
waistcoat and his tie, and thought regretfully of money thrown away in times
past. There are few things more edifying unto Art than the actual belly-pinch
of hunger, and Dick in his few walks abroad,--he did not care for exercise; it
raised desires that could not be satisfied--found himself dividing mankind into
two classes,--those who looked as if they might give him something to eat, and
those who looked otherwise. "I never knew what I had to learn about the human
face before," he thought; and, as a reward for his humility, Providence caused
a cab-driver at a sausage-shop where Dick fed that night to leave half eaten a
great chunk of bread. Dick took it,--would have fought all the world for its
possession,--and it cheered him.
The month dragged through at last, and, nearly prancing with impatience, he
went to draw his money. Then he hastened to Torpenhow"s address and smelt the
smell of cooking meats all along the corridors of the chambers. Torpenhow was
on the top floor, and Dick burst into his room, to be received with a hug which
nearly cracked his ribs, as Torpenhow dragged him to the light and spoke of
twenty different things in the same breath.
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