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484 THE ADVENTURES OF PHILIP
the Little Sister!" And then came such smiles, and nods, and
delighted recognitions from the cab to the two friends on foot ! Of
course I have forgotten what was the piece which we all saw on
that Easter evening. But those children will never forget; no,
though they live to be a hundred years old, and though their
attention was distracted from the piece by constant observation of
Philip and his companion in the public boxes opposite.
Mr. Firmin's work and pay were both light, and he accepted
both very cheerfully. He saved money out of his little stipend.
It was surprising how economically he could live with his little
landlady's aid and counsel. He would come to us, recounting his
feats of parsimony with a childish delight : he loved to contemplate
his sovereigns, as week by week the little pile accumulated. He
kept a sharp eye upon sales, and purchased now and again articles
of furniture. In this way be brought home a piano to his lodgings,
on which he could no more play than he could dance on the tightrope;
but he was given to understand that it was a very fine instrument
; and my wife played on it one day when we went to visit
him, and he sat listening, with his great hands on his knees, in
ecstasies. He was thinking how one day, please Heaven, he should
see other hands touching the keys—and player and instrument disappeared
in a mist before his happy eyes. His purchases were not
always lucky. For example, he was sadly taken in at an auction
about a little pearl ornament. Some artful Hebrews at the sale
conspired and " ran him up," as the phrase is, to a price more than
equal to the value of the trinket. " But you know who it was for,
ma'am," one of Philip's apologists said. "If she would like to
wear his ten fingers he would cut 'em off and send 'em to her. But
he keeps 'em to write her letters and verses—and most beautiful
they are, too."
"And the dear fellow, who was bred up in splendour and
luxury, Mrs. Mugford, as you, ma'am, know too well—he won't
drink no wine now. A little whisky and a glass of beer is all he
takes. And his clothes—he who used to be so grand—you see
how he is now, ma'am. Always the gentleman—and, indeed, a
finer or grander looking gentleman never entered a room ; but he is
saving—you know for what, ma'am."
And, indeed, Mrs. Mugford did know; and so did Mrs. Pendennis
and Mrs. Brandon. And these three women worked
themselves into a perfect fever, interesting themselves for Mr.
Firmin. And Mugford, in his rough funny way, used to say,
"Mr. P., a certain Mr. Heff has come and put our noses
out of joint. He has, as sure as my name is Hem. And I am
getting quite jealous of our sub-editor, and that is the long and