live in his neighbourhood if possible. He looked at his companion
(they were walking together), and was met in return with a glance of
calm friendliness; it gratified him, strengthened the feeling of
respect and attachment which had already grown out of this
intercourse. In Tysoe Street, however, no accommodation could be
found. Sidney had another project in his thoughts; pursuing it, he
paid a visit the next evening to certain acquaintances of his named
Byass, who had a house in Hanover Street, Islington, and let
lodgings. Hanover Street lies to the north of City Road; it is a
quiet byway, of curving. form, and consists of dwellings only.
Squalor is here kept at arm's length; compared with regions close at
hand, this and the contiguous streets have something of a suburban
aspect.

Three or four steps led up to the house-door. Sidney's knock
summoned a young, healthy-faced, comely woman, who evinced hearty
pleasure on seeing who her visitor was. She brought him at once into
a parlour on the ground-floor.

'Well, an' I was only this mornin' tellin' Sam to go an' look after
you, or write a note, or somethin'! Why can't you come round
oftener? I've no patience with you! You just sit at 'ome an' get
humped, an' what's the good o' that, I should like to know? I
thought you'd took offence with me, an' so I told Sam. Do you want
to know how baby is? Why don't you ask, then, as you ought to do the
first thing? He's a good deal better than he deserves to be, young
rascal--all the trouble he gives me! He's fast asleep, I'm glad to
say, so you can't see him. Sam'll be back in a few minutes; at least
I expect him, but there's no knowin' nowadays when lie can leave the
warehouse. What's brought you to-night, I wonder? You needn't tell