noted down was a miraculous heaven-brew in my spirit in answer to my
yesterday's cry for aid.

"It was God! It was God!" I cried to myself, and I wept for enthusiasm
over my own words; now and then I had to stop and listen if any one was on
the stairs. At last I rose up and prepared to go. I stole noiselessly down
each flight and reached the door unseen.

The streets were glistening from the rain which had fallen in the early
morning. The sky hung damp and heavy over the town, and there was no glint
of sunlight visible. I wondered what the day would bring forth? I went as
usual in the direction of the Town Hall, and saw that it was half-past
eight. I had yet a few hours to walk about; there was no use in going to
the newspaper office before ten, perhaps eleven. I must lounge about so
long, and think, in the meantime, over some expedient to raise breakfast.
For that matter, I had no fear of going to bed hungry that day; those
times were over, God be praised! That was a thing of the past, an evil
dream. Henceforth, Excelsior!

But, in the meanwhile, the green blanket was a trouble to me. Neither
could I well make myself conspicuous by carrying such a thing about right
under people's eyes. What would any one think of me? And as I went on I
tried to think of a place where I could have it kept till later on. It
occurred to me that I might go into Semb's and get it wrapped up in paper;
not only would it look better, but I need no longer be ashamed of carrying
it,

I entered the shop, and stated my errand to one of the shop boys.

He looked first at the blanket, then at me. It struck me that he shrugged