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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 275
her darling's use whenever he should need it. I daresay she
pinched and had shabby dinners at home, so as to save yet more,
and so caused the Captain to grumble. Why, for that boy's sake,
I believe she would have been capable of shaving her lodgers' legs
of mutton, and levying a tax on their tea-caddies and baker's stuff.
If you don't like unprincipled attachments of this sort, and only
desire that your womankind should love you for yourself, and according
to your deserts, I am your very humble servant. Hereditary
bondswomen ! you know, that were you free, and did you strike
the blow, my dears, you were unhappy for your pain, and eagerly
would claim your bonds again. What poet has uttered that sentiment?
It is perfectly true, and I know will receive the cordial
approbation of the dear ladies.
Philip has decreed in his own mind that he will go and live in
those chambers in the Temple where we have met him. Van John,
the sporting gentleman, had determined for special reasons to withdraw
from law and sport in this country, and Mr. Firmin took
possession of his vacant sleeping-chamber. To furnish a bachelor's
bedroom need not be a matter of much cost ; but Mr. Philip was
too good-natured a fellow to haggle about the valuation of Van
John's bedsteads and chests of drawers, and generously took them
at twice their value. He and Mr. Cassidy now divided the rooms
in equal reign. Ah, happy rooms, bright rooms, rooms near the
sky, to remember you is to be young again ! for I would have you
to know that when Philip went to take possession of his share of
the fourth floor in the Temple, his biographer was still comparatively
juvenile, and in one or two very old-fashioned families was
called " young Pendennis."
So Philip Firmin dwelt in a garret ; and the fourth part of a
laundress and the half of a boy now formed the domestic establishment
of him who had been attended by housekeepers, butlers, and
obsequious liveried menials. To be freed from that ceremonial and
etiquette of plush and worsted lace was an immense relief to Firmin.
His pipe need not lurk in crypts or back closets now : its fragrance
breathed over the whole chambers, and rose up to the sky, their
near neighbour.
The first month or two after being ruined, Philip vowed, was
an uncommonly pleasant time. He had still plenty of money in
his pocket ; and the sense that, perhaps, it was imprudent to take
a cab or drink a bottle of wine, added a zest to those enjoyments
which they by no means possessed when they were easy and of
daily occurrence. I am not certain that a dinner of beef and porter
did not amuse our young man almost as well as banquets much
more costly to which he had been accustomed. He laughed at the