At this point the gloomy rough--who did not appear, however, to be a genuine rough, but a pretty good imitation of one, made of material that had once seen better days--stopped, and said to his comrade that he was tired of that sort of work, and would bid him good-day. Without waiting for an answer he walked away, and his companion, without vouchsafing a reply, looked after him with a sneer. "A rum cove!" he remarked to the small boy in the man's hat, as he continued his progress. "Rayther," replied the boy. With this interchange of sentiment these casual acquaintances parted, to meet probably no more! Meanwhile the gloomy rough, whom the lively one had called Ned, walked with rapid steps along several streets, as though he had a distinct purpose in view. He turned at last into a narrow, quiet street, and going up to the door of a shabby-genteel house, applied the knocker with considerable vigour. "Now then, go along with you; we don't want _your_ services here; we clear off our own snow, we do. Imprence! to knock, too, as if he was a gentleman!" This was uttered by a servant-girl who had thrust her head out of a second-floor window to take an observation of the visitor before going down to open the door. "Is he at home, Betsy dear?" inquired the gloomy man, looking up with a leer which proved that he could be the reverse of gloomy when he chose. "Oh, it's you, is it? I don't think he wants to see you; indeed, I'm sure of it," said the girl. "Yes he does, dear; at all events I want to see him; and, Betsy, say it's pressing business, and _not_ beggin'." Betsy disappeared, and soon after, reappearing at the door, admitted the man, whom she ushered into a small apartment, which was redolent of tobacco, and in which sat a young man slippered and dressing-gowned, taking breakfast. "How are you, doctor?" said the visitor, in a tone that did not accord with his soiled and ragged garments, as he laid down his hat and shovel, and flung himself into a chair. "None the better for seeing you, Hooper," replied the doctor sternly. "Well, well!" exclaimed Ned, "what a world we live in, to be sure! It was `Hail fellow! well met,' when I was well off; now," (he scowled here) "my old familiars give me the cold shoulder _because I'm poor_." "You know that you are unjust," said the doctor, leaning back in his chair, and speaking less sternly though not less firmly; "you know, Ned, that I have helped you with advice and with money to the utmost extent of my means, and you know that it was a long, long time before I ceased to call you one of my friends; but I do not choose to be annoyed by a man who has deliberately cast himself to the dogs, whose companions are the lowest wretches in London, and whose appearance is dirty and disgusting as well as disreputable." "I can't help it," pleaded Hooper; "I can get no work."