The day had been windy and chill,--the night was cold; and therefore I fully expected to begin my experiences among a dozen of ragged wretches squatting about the steps and waiting for admission. But my only companion at the door was a decently dressed woman, whom, as I afterwards learnt, they declined to admit until she had recovered from a fit of intoxication from which she had the misfortune to be still suffering. I lifted the big knocker and knocked; the door was promptly opened, and I entered. Just within, a comfortable-looking clerk sat at a comfortable desk, ledger before him. Indeed, the spacious hall in every way was as comfortable as cleanliness and great mats and plenty of gaslight could make it. "What do you want?" asked the man who opened the door. "I want a lodging." "Go and stand before the desk," said the porter; and I obeyed. "You are late," said the clerk. "Am I, sir?" "Yes. If you come in you'll have a bath, and you'll have to sleep in the shed." "Very well, sir." "What's your name?" "Joshua Mason, sir." "What are you?" "An engraver." (This taradiddle I invented to account for the look of my hands.) "Where did you sleep last night?" "Hammersmith," I answered--as I hope to be forgiven. "How many times have you been here?" "Never before, sir." "Where do you mean to go to when you are turned out in the morning?" "Back to Hammersmith, sir." These humble answers being entered in a book, the clerk called to the porter, saying, "Take him through. You may as well take his bread with you." Near the clerk stood a basket containing some pieces of bread of equal size. Taking one of these, and unhitching a bunch of keys from the wall, the porter led me through some passages all so scrupulously clean that my most serious misgivings were laid to rest. Then we passed into a dismal yard. Crossing this, my guide led me to a door, calling out, "Hillo! Daddy, I've brought you another!" Whereupon Daddy opened unto us, and let a little of his gaslight stream into the dark where we stood. "Come in," said Daddy, very hospitably. "There's enough of you to-night, anyhow! What made you so late?" "I didn't like to come in earlier." "Ah! that's a pity, now, because you've missed your skilley (gruel). It's the first night of skilley, don't you know, under the new Act?" "Just like my luck!" I muttered dolefully.