“room to let for a single gentleman.” sometimes in an idle hour, impelled by foolishness, i will knock at the door. it is opened after a longer or shorter interval by the “slavey”—in the morning, slatternly, her arms concealed beneath her apron; in the afternoon, smart in dirty cap and apron. how well i know her! unchanged, not grown an inch—her round bewildered eyes, her open mouth, her touzled hair, her scored red hands. with an effort i refrain from muttering: “so sorry, forgot my key,” from pushing past her and mounting two at a time the narrow stairs, carpeted to the first floor, but bare beyond. instead, i say, “oh, what rooms have you to let?” when, scuttling to the top of the kitchen stairs, she will call over the banisters: “a gentleman to see the rooms.” there comes up, panting, a harassed-looking, elderly female, but genteel in black. she crushes past the little “slavey,” and approaching, eyes me critically.
“i have a very nice room on the first floor,” she informs me, “and one behind on the third.”
i agree to see them, explaining that i am seeking them for a young friend of mine. we squeeze past the hat and umbrella stand: there is just room, but one must keep close to the wall. the first floor is rather an imposing apartment, with a marble-topped sideboard measuring quite three feet by two, the doors of which will remain closed if you introduce a wad of paper between them. a green table-cloth, matching the curtains, covers the loo-table. the lamp is perfectly safe so long as it stands in the exact centre of the table, but should not be shifted. a paper fire-stove ornament in some mysterious way bestows upon the room an air of chastity. above the mantelpiece is a fly-blown mirror, between the once gilt frame and glass of which can be inserted invitation cards; indeed, one or two so remain, proving that the tenants even of “bed-sitting-rooms” are not excluded from social delights. the wall opposite is adorned by an oleograph of the kind cheap jacks sell by auction on saturday nights in the pimlico road, and warrant as “hand-made.” generally speaking, it is a swiss landscape. there appears to be more “body” in a swiss landscape than in scenes from less favoured localities. a dilapidated mill, a foaming torrent, a mountain, a maiden and a cow can at the least be relied upon. an easy chair (i disclaim all responsibility for the adjective), stuffed with many coils of steel wire, each possessing a “business end” in admirable working order, and covered with horsehair, highly glazed, awaits the uninitiated. there is one way of sitting upon it, and only one: by using the extreme edge, and planting your feet firmly on the floor. if you attempt to lean back in it you inevitably slide out of it. when so treated it seems to say to you: “excuse me, you are very heavy, and you would really be much more comfortable upon the floor. thank you so much.” the bed is behind the door, and the washstand behind the bed. if you sit facing the window you can forget the bed. on the other hand, if more than one friend come to call on you, you are glad of it. as a matter of fact, experienced visitors prefer it—make straight for it, refusing with firmness to exchange it for the easy chair.
“and this room is?”
“eight shillings a week, sir—with attendance, of course.”
“any extras?”
“the lamp, sir, is eighteenpence a week; and the kitchen fire, if the gentleman wishes to dine at home, two shillings.”
“and fire?”
“sixpence a scuttle, sir, i charge for coals.”
“it's rather a small scuttle.”
the landlady bridles a little. “the usual size, i think, sir.” one presumes there is a special size in coal-scuttles made exclusively for lodging-house keepers.
i agree that while i am about it i may as well see the other room, the third floor back. the landlady opens the door for me, but remains herself on the landing. she is a stout lady, and does not wish to dwarf the apartment by comparison. the arrangement here does not allow of your ignoring the bed. it is the life and soul of the room, and it declines to efface itself. its only possible rival is the washstand, straw-coloured; with staring white basin and jug, together with other appurtenances. it glares defiantly from its corner. “i know i'm small,” it seems to say; “but i'm very useful; and i won't be ignored.” the remaining furniture consists of a couple of chairs—there is no hypocrisy about them: they are not easy and they do not pretend to be easy; a small chest of light-painted drawers before the window, with white china handles, upon which is a tiny looking-glass; and, occupying the entire remaining space, after allowing three square feet for the tenant, when he arrives, an attenuated four-legged table apparently home-made. the only ornament in the room is, suspended above the fireplace, a funeral card, framed in beer corks. as the corpse introduced by the ancient egyptians into their banquets, it is hung there perhaps to remind the occupant of the apartment that the luxuries and allurements of life have their end; or maybe it consoles him in despondent moments with the reflection that after all he might be worse off.
the rent of this room is three-and-sixpence a week, also including attendance; lamp, as for the first floor, eighteen-pence; but kitchen fire a shilling.
“but why should kitchen fire for the first floor be two shillings, and for this only one?”
“well, as a rule, sir, the first floor wants more cooking done.”
you are quite right, my dear lady, i was forgetting. the gentleman in the third floor back! cooking for him is not a great tax upon the kitchen fire. his breakfast, it is what, madam, we call plain, i think. his lunch he takes out. you may see him, walking round the quiet square, up and down the narrow street that, leading to nowhere in particular, is between twelve and two somewhat deserted. he carries a paper bag, into which at intervals, when he is sure nobody is looking, his mouth disappears. from studying the neighbourhood one can guess what it contains. saveloys hereabouts are plentiful and only twopence each. there are pie shops, where meat pies are twopence and fruit pies a penny. the lady behind the counter, using deftly a broad, flat knife, lifts the little dainty with one twist clean from its tiny dish: it is marvellous, having regard to the thinness of the pastry, that she never breaks one. roley-poley pudding, sweet and wonderfully satisfying, more especially when cold, is but a penny a slice. peas pudding, though this is an awkward thing to eat out of a bag, is comforting upon cold days. then with his tea he takes two eggs or a haddock, the fourpenny size; maybe on rare occasions, a chop or steak; and you fry it for him, madam, though every time he urges on you how much he would prefer it grilled, for fried in your one frying-pan its flavour becomes somewhat confused. but maybe this is the better for him, for, shutting his eyes and trusting only to smell and flavour, he can imagine himself enjoying variety. he can begin with herrings, pass on to liver and bacon, opening his eyes again for a moment perceive that he has now arrived at the joint, and closing them again, wind up with distinct suggestion of toasted cheese, thus avoiding monotony. for dinner he goes out again. maybe he is not hungry, late meals are a mistake; or, maybe, putting his hand into his pocket and making calculations beneath a lamp-post, appetite may come to him. then there are places cheerful with the sound of frizzling fat, where fried plaice brown and odorous may be had for three halfpence, and a handful of sliced potatoes for a penny; where for fourpence succulent stewed eels may be discussed; vinegar ad lib.; or for sevenpence—but these are red-letter evenings—half a sheep's head may be indulged in, which is a supper fit for any king, who happened to be hungry.
i explain that i will discuss the matter with my young friend when he arrives. the landlady says, “certainly, sir:” she is used to what she calls the “wandering christian;” and easing my conscience by slipping a shilling into the “slavey's” astonished, lukewarm hand, i pass out again into the long, dreary street, now echoing maybe to the sad cry of “muffins!”
or sometimes of an evening, the lamp lighted, the remnants of the meat tea cleared away, the flickering firelight cosifying the dingy rooms, i go a-visiting. there is no need for me to ring the bell, to mount the stairs. through the thin transparent walls i can see you plainly, old friends of mine, fashions a little changed, that is all. we wore bell-shaped trousers; eight-and-six to measure, seven-and-six if from stock; fastened our neckties in dashing style with a horseshoe pin. i think in the matter of waistcoats we had the advantage of you; ours were gayer, braver. our cuffs and collars were of paper: sixpence-halfpenny the dozen, three-halfpence the pair. on sunday they were white and glistening; on monday less aggressively obvious; on tuesday morning decidedly dappled. but on tuesday evening, when with natty cane, or umbrella neatly rolled in patent leather case, we took our promenade down oxford street—fashionable hour nine to ten p.m.—we could shoot our arms and cock our chins with the best. your india-rubber linen has its advantages. storm does not wither it; it braves better the heat and turmoil of the day. the passing of a sponge! and your “dicky” is itself again. we had to use bread-crumbs, and so sacrifice the glaze. yet i cannot help thinking that for the first few hours, at all events, our paper was more dazzling.
for the rest i see no change in you, old friends. i wave you greeting from the misty street. god rest you, gallant gentlemen, lonely and friendless and despised; making the best of joyless lives; keeping yourselves genteel on twelve, fifteen, or eighteen (ah, but you are plutocrats!) shillings a week; saving something even of that, maybe, to help the old mother in the country, so proud of her “gentleman” son who has book learning and who is “something in the city.” may nothing you dismay. bullied, and badgered, and baited from nine to six though you may be, from then till bedtime you are rorty young dogs. the half-guinea topper, “as worn by the prince of wales” (ah, how many a meal has it not cost!), warmed before the fire, brushed and polished and coaxed, shines resplendent. the second pair of trousers are drawn from beneath the bed; in the gaslight, with well-marked crease from top to toe, they will pass for new. a pleasant evening to you! may your cheap necktie make all the impression your soul can desire! may your penny cigar be mistaken for havana! may the barmaid charm your simple heart by addressing you as “baby!” may some sweet shop-girl throw a kindly glance at you, inviting you to walk with her! may she snigger at your humour; may other dogs cast envious looks at you, and may no harm come of it!
you dreamers of dreams, you who while your companions play and sleep will toil upward in the night! you have read mr. smiles' “self-help,” longfellow's “psalm of life,” and so strengthened attack with confidence “french without a master,” “bookkeeping in six lessons.” with a sigh to yourselves you turn aside from the alluring streets, from the bright, bewitching eyes, into the stuffy air of birkbeck institutions, polytechnic schools. may success compensate you for your youth devoid of pleasure! may the partner's chair you seen in visions be yours before the end! may you live one day in clapham in a twelve-roomed house!
and, after all, we have our moments, have we not? the saturday night at the play. the hours of waiting, they are short. we converse with kindred souls of the british drama, its past and future: we have our views. we dream of florence this, kate that; in a little while we shall see her. ah, could she but know how we loved her! her photo is on our mantelpiece, transforming the dismal little room into a shrine. the poem we have so often commenced! when it is finished we will post it to her. at least she will acknowledge its receipt; we can kiss the paper her hand has rested on. the great doors groan, then quiver. ah, the wild thrill of that moment! now push for all you are worth: charge, wriggle, squirm! it is an epitome of life. we are through—collarless, panting, pummelled from top to toe: but what of that? upward, still upward; then downward with leaps at risk of our neck, from bench to bench through the gloom. we have gained the front row! would we exchange sensations with the stallite, strolling languidly to his seat? the extravagant dinner once a week! we banquet a la francais, in soho, for one-and-six, including wine. does tortoni ever give his customers a repast they enjoy more? i trow not.
my first lodging was an attic in a square the other side of blackfriars bridge. the rent of the room, if i remember rightly, was three shillings a week with cooking, half-a-crown without. i purchased a methylated spirit stove with kettle and frying-pan, and took it without.
old hasluck would have helped me willingly, and there were others to whom i might have appealed, but a boy's pride held me back. i would make my way alone, win my place in the world by myself. to hal, knowing he would sympathise with me, i confided the truth.
“had your mother lived,” he told me, “i should have had something to say on the subject. of course, i knew what had happened, but as it is—well, you need not be afraid, i shall not offer you help; indeed, i should refuse it were you to ask. put your carlyle in your pocket: he is not all voices, but he is the best maker of men i know. the great thing to learn of life is not to be afraid of it.”
“look me up now and then,” he added, “and we'll talk about the stars, the future of socialism, and the woman question—anything you like except about yourself and your twopenny-half-penny affairs.”
from another it would have sounded brutal, but i understood him. and so we shook hands and parted for longer than either of us at the time expected. the franco-german war broke out a few weeks later on, and hal, the love of adventure always strong within him, volunteered his services, which were accepted. it was some years before we met again.
on the door-post of a house in farringdon street, not far from the circus, stood in those days a small brass plate, announcing that the “ludgate news rooms” occupied the third and fourth floors, and that the admission to the same was one penny. we were a seedy company that every morning crowded into these rooms: clerks, shopmen, superior artisans, travellers, warehousemen—all of us out of work. most of us were young, but with us was mingled a sprinkling of elder men, and these latter were always the saddest and most silent of this little whispering army of the down-at-heel. roughly speaking, we were divided into two groups: the newcomers, cheery, confident. these would flit from newspaper to newspaper with buzz of pleasant anticipation, select their advertisement as one choosing some dainty out of a rich and varied menu card, and replying to it as one conferring favour.
“dear sir,—in reply to your advertisement in to-day's standard, i shall be pleased to accept the post vacant in your office. i am of good appearance and address. i am an excellent—” it was really marvellous the quality and number of our attainments. french! we wrote and spoke it fluently, a la ahn. german! of this we possessed a slighter knowledge, it was true, but sufficient for mere purposes of commerce. bookkeeping! arithmetic! geometry! we played with them. the love of work! it was a passion with us. our moral character! it would have adorned a free kirk elder. “i could call on you to-morrow or friday between eleven and one, or on saturday any time up till two. salary required, two guineas a week. an early answer will oblige. yours truly.”
the old stagers did not buzz. hour after hour they sat writing, steadily, methodically, with day by day less hope and heavier fears:
“sir,—your advt. in to-day's d. t. i am—” of such and such an age. list of qualifications less lengthy, set forth with more modesty; object desired being air of verisimilitude.—“if you decide to engage me i will endeavour to give you every satisfaction. any time you like to appoint i will call on you. i should not ask a high salary to start with. yours obediently.”
dozens of the first letter, hundreds of the second, i wrote with painful care, pen carefully chosen, the one-inch margin down the left hand side of the paper first portioned off with dots. to three or four i received a curt reply, instructing me to call. but the shyness that had stood so in my way during the earlier half of my school days had now, i know not why, returned upon me, hampering me at every turn. a shy child grown-up folks at all events can understand and forgive; but a shy young man is not unnaturally regarded as a fool. i gave the impression of being awkward, stupid, sulky. the more i strove against my temperament the worse i became. my attempts to be at my ease, to assert myself, resulted—i could see it myself—only in rudeness.
