The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 394: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MR. SYCAMORE old low ideas as to confound night with morning. It’s all very well for people who have to get up to black boots, or take down shutters, or open their shops, but a gentleman’s morning,” continued Mr. Sycamore, in a tone of gentle re- monstrance, ‘‘ begins a little after noonday, and it is just allowable for him to begin his breakfast at one o’clock. So if you are here at half-past two to-morrow, it will be a very convenient hour in the morning indeed. You will of course come with your luggage, as we shall start off at once for Ramsgate, which I am told is getting rather a fashionable place since I began to patronize it last year.”’ Christian promised to be punctual at half-past two on the following day, and he issued forth from Mr. Sycamore’s presence. Descending the stairs, he was passing through the hall of the hotel, when he perceived a very handsomely dressed groom — who was a nice-looking dapper little man about five and twenty, but bow-legged, as indeed all ap- proved and veritable grooms ought to be — engaged in some little altercation with another man who had the air as well as the odour of a hostler from a livery-stable. ‘“ Now, look you, Jeames,”’ said the hostler to the dapper eroom, “ it’s no use talking. My guvner says as how the cab sha’n’t be sent never no more unless the bill’s paid, or a good reference gived. You and me, Jeames, know what’s what, and it is rayther hard that your guvner should run up a tick of forty-five pound for the hire of a cab and never so much as pay ascurrick on account. It isn’t the cheese, Jeames, no, blow me tight if it is.’’ ‘Nonsense, Tom, it’s all right,’ answered the dapper esroom,* whose Christian name appeared to be James. ‘“‘ My _ master’s a gentleman of fortune, which has his own peculiar ways —”’ Christian heard no more; indeed he had not purposely lingered to catch any of the conversation at all, but he could not help overhearing the little which we have recorded, as he passed through the hall. He thought nothing of it at the time, and it speedily slipped out of his memory. He was glad that he had obtained a new situation, and he at once set off to Bayswater, to communicate the circumstance to his sister, who he well knew would be delighted with the intelli- gence. He found Christina at home, and when it was an- nounced to the princess that he was to leave London on the CONMIGO cS (C(O)