CHAPTER VI.

fyouknowhowtomanagewitheconomy.” “NecessitywouldteachmeifIdidn’t.” “Go,then,andletyourwitsmakeawayforyouwhenyougetthere.IknowBrusselsalmostaswellasIknowX——,andIamsureitwouldsuitsuchaoneasyoubetterthanLondon.” “Butoccupation,Mr.Hunsden!ImustgowhereoccupationistobehadandhowcouldIgetrecommendation,orintroduction,oremploymentatBrussels?” “Therespeakstheorganofcaution.Youhatetoadvanceastepbeforeyouknoweveryinchoftheway.Youhaven’tasheetofpaperandapen-and-ink?” “Ihopeso,”andIproducedwritingmaterialswithalacrityforIguessedwhathewasgoingtodo.Hesatdown,wroteafewlines,folded,sealed,andaddressedaletter,andhelditouttome. “There,Prudence,there’sapioneertohewdownthefirstroughdifficultiesofyourpath.Iknowwellenough,lad,youarenotoneofthosewhowillruntheirneckintoanoosewithoutseeinghowtheyaretogetitoutagain,andyou’rerightthere.Arecklessmanismyaversion,andnothingshouldeverpersuademetomeddlewiththeconcernsofsuchaone.Thosewhoarerecklessforthemselvesaregenerallytentimesmoresofortheirfriends.” “Thisisaletterofintroduction,Isuppose?”saidI,takingtheepistle. “Yes.Withthatinyourpocketyouwillrunnoriskoffindingyourselfinastateofabsolutedestitution,which,Iknow,youwillregardasadegradation—soshouldI,forthatmatter.Thepersontowhomyouwillpresentitgenerallyhastwoorthreerespectableplacesdependinguponhisrecommendation.” “Thatwilljustsuitme,”saidI. “Well,andwhere’syourgratitude?”demandedMr.Hunsden“don’tyouknowhowtosay‘Thankyou?’” “I’vefifteenpoundsandawatch,whichmygodmother,whomIneversaw,gavemeeighteenyearsago,”wasmyratherirrelevantanswerandIfurtheravowedmyselfahappyman,andprofessedthatIdidnotenvyanybeinginChristendom. “Butyourgratitude?” “Ishallbeoffpresently,Mr.Hunsden—to-morrow,ifallbewell:I’llnotstayadaylongerinX——thanI’mobliged.” “Verygood—butitwillbedecenttomakedueacknowledgmentfortheassistanceyouhavereceivedbequick!Itisjustgoingtostrikeseven:I’mwaitingtobethanked.” “Juststandoutoftheway,willyou,Mr.Hunsden:Iwantakeythereisonthecornerofthemantelpiece.I’llpackmyportmanteaubeforeIgotobed.” Thehouseclockstruckseven. “Theladisaheathen,”saidHunsden,andtakinghishatfromasideboard,helefttheroom,laughingtohimself.Ihadhalfaninclinationtofollowhim:IreallyintendedtoleaveX——thenextmorning,andshouldcertainlynothaveanotheropportunityofbiddinghimgood-bye.Thefrontdoorbangedto. “Lethimgo,”saidI,“weshallmeetagainsomeday.”