 »upon my word, that I was ever more
gratified than by this. I really don't.«
    »Oh! I mean what I say,« retorted Martin, with a manner as free and easy in
its condescension to, not to say in its compassion for, the other, as if he were
already First Architect in Ordinary to all the Crowned Heads in Europe. »I'd do
it. I'd provide for you.«
    »I am afraid,« said Tom, shaking his head, »that I should be a mighty
awkward person to provide for.«
    »Pooh, pooh!« rejoined Martin. »Never mind that. If I took it in my head to
say, Pinch is a clever fellow; I approve of Pinch; I should like to know the man
who would venture to put himself in opposition to me. Besides, confound it, Tom,
you could be useful to me in a hundred ways.«
    »If I were not useful in one or two, it shouldn't be for want of trying,«
said Tom.
    »For instance,« pursued Martin, after a short reflection, »you'd be a
capital fellow, now, to see that my ideas were properly carried out; and to
overlook the works in their progress before they were sufficiently advanced to
be very interesting to me; and to take all that sort of plain sailing. Then
you'd be a splendid fellow to show people over my studio, and to talk about Art
to 'em, when I couldn't be bored myself, and all that kind of thing. For it
would be devilish creditable, Tom (I'm quite in earnest, I give you my word), to
have a man of your information about one, instead of some ordinary blockhead.
Oh, I'd take care of you. You'd be useful, rely upon it!«
    To say that Tom had no idea of playing first fiddle in any social orchestra,
but was always quite satisfied to be set down for the hundred and fiftieth
violin in the band, or thereabouts, is to express his modesty in very inadequate
terms. He was much delighted, therefore, by these observations.
    »I should be married to her then, Tom, of course,« said Martin.
    What was that which checked Tom Pinch so suddenly, in the high flow of his
gladness: bringing the blood into his honest cheeks, and a remorseful feeling to
his honest heart, as if he were unworthy of his friend's
