Life in London

Life in London, by Edwin
Hodder

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Title: Life in London
Author: Edwin Hodder
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LIFE IN LONDON
OR, THE PITFALLS OF A GREAT CITY
BY EDWIN HODDER, ESQ.
1890.

CONTENTS.
I. THE INTRODUCTION
II. SCHOOL-BOY DAYS
III. STARTING WELL
IV. MEETING A SCHOOL-FELLOW
V. A FARCE
VI. THE LECTURE

VII. GETTING ON IN THE WORLD
VIII. A TEST OF FRIENDSHIP
IX. IN EXILE
X. MAKING DISCOVERIES
XI. THE SICK CHAMBER
CHAPTER I.
THE INTRODUCTION.
Breathless and excited, George Weston came running down a street in
Islington. He knocked at the door of No. 16, and in his impatience,
until it was opened, commenced a tattoo with his knuckles upon the
panels.
"Oh, mother, mother, I have got such splendid news!" he cried, as he
hurried down stairs into the room where Mrs. Weston, with her apron
on and sleeves tucked up, was busy in her domestic affairs. "Such
splendid news!" repeated George. "I have been down to Mr. Compton's
with the letter Uncle Henry gave me, in which he said I wanted a
situation, and should be glad if Mr. Compton could help me; and, sure
enough, I was able to see him, and he is such a kind, fatherly old
gentlemen, mother. I am sure I shall like him."
"Well, George, and what did he say!"
"Oh! I've got ever so much to tell you, before I come to that part. The
office, you know, is in Falcon Court, Fleet Street; such a dismal place,
with the houses all crammed together, and a little space in front, not
more than large enough to turn a baker's bread-truck in. All the
windows are of ground glass, as if the people inside were too busy to
see out, or to be seen; and on every door there are lots of names of
people who have their offices there, and some of them are actually right
up at the top storeys of the houses. Well, I found out the name of Mr.

Compton, and I tapped at a door where 'Clerk's Office' was written. I
think I ought not to have tapped, but to have gone in, for somebody
said rather sharply, 'Come in,' and in I went. An old gentleman was
standing beside a sort of counter, with a lot of heavy books on it, and
he asked me what I wanted. I said I wanted to see Mr. Compton, and
had got a letter for him. He told me to sit down until Mr. Compton was
disengaged, and then he would see me."
"And what sort of an office was it, George? And who was the old
gentleman? The manager, I suppose!"
"I think he was, because he seemed to do as he liked, and all the clerks
talked in a whisper while he was there. I had to wait more than
half-an-hour, and I was able to look round and see all that was going on.
It is a large office, and there were ten clerks seated on uncomfortable
high stools, without backs, poring over books and papers. I don't think I
shall like those clerks, they stared at me so rudely, and I felt so
ashamed, because one looked hard at me, and then whispered to
another: and I believe they were saying something about my boots,
which you know, mother, are terribly down at heel, and so I put one
foot over the other, to try and hide them."
"There was no need of that, George. It did not alter the fact that they
were down at heel; and there is no disgrace in