Produced by Kevin Handy, Dave Maddock, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team 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!"