 was, that he was coming to Barnard's Inn, not to
Hammersmith, and consequently would not fall in Bentley Drummle's way. I had
little objection to his being seen by Herbert or his father, for both of whom I
had a respect; but I had the sharpest sensitiveness as to his being seen by
Drummle, whom I held in contempt. So, throughout life, our worst weaknesses and
meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most
despise.
    I had begun to be always decorating the chambers in some quite unnecessary
and inappropriate way or other, and very expensive those wrestles with Barnard
proved to be. By this time, the rooms were vastly different from what I had
found them, and I enjoyed the honour of occupying a few prominent pages in the
books of a neighbouring upholsterer. I had got on so fast of late, that I had
even started a boy in boots - top boots - in bondage and slavery to whom I might
be said to pass my days. For, after I had made this monster (out of the refuse
of my washerwoman's family) and had clothed him with a blue coat, canary
waistcoat, white cravat, creamy breeches, and the boots already mentioned, I had
to find him a little to do and a great deal to eat; and with both of these
horrible requirements he haunted my existence.
    This avenging phantom was ordered to be on duty at eight on Tuesday morning
in the hall (it was two feet square, as charged for floorcloth), and Herbert
suggested certain things for breakfast that he thought Joe would like. While I
felt sincerely obliged to him for being so interested and considerate, I had an
odd half-provoked sense of suspicion upon me, that if Joe had been coming to see
him, he wouldn't have been quite so brisk about it.
    However, I came into town on the Monday night to be ready for Joe, and I got
up early in the morning, and caused the sitting-room and breakfast-table to
assume their most splendid appearance. Unfortunately the morning was drizzly,
and an angel could not have concealed the fact that Barnard was shedding sooty
tears outside the window, like some weak giant of a Sweep.
    As the time approached I should have liked to run away, but the Avenger
pursuant to orders was in the hall, and presently I heard Joe, on the staircase.
I knew it was Joe, by his clumsy manner of coming up-stairs - his state boots
being always too big for him - and by the time
