"Oh, beyond all expectation!"

"Then you have got something to do now?"

"Something to do?" I answer and seem surprised. "Rather! Why, I am
book-keeper at Christensen's--a wholesale house."

"Oh, indeed!" he remarks and draws back a little.

"Well, God knows I am the first to be pleased at your success. If only you
don't let people beg the money from you that you earn. Good-day!"

A second after he wheels round and comes back and, pointing with his cane
to my parcel, says:

"I would recommend my tailor to you for the suit of clothes. You won't
find a better tailor than Isaksen--just say I sent you, that's all!"

This was really rather more than I could swallow. What did he want to poke
his nose in my affairs for? Was it any concern of his which tailor I
employed? The sight of this empty-headed dandified "masher" embittered me,
and I reminded him rather brutally of ten shilling he had borrowed from
me. But before he could reply I regretted that I had asked for it. I got
ashamed and avoided meeting his eyes, and, as a lady came by just then, I
stepped hastily aside to let her pass, and seized the opportunity to
proceed on my way.

What should I do with myself whilst I waited? I could not visit a cafe
with empty pockets, and I knew of no acquaintance that I could call on at