"There's cold meat in the pantry, and some tongue and sausages, and I'll leave word at the dairy about the cream. Oh! and the coffee is in a tin on the top of the kitchen fireplace; put in two tablespoonfuls, and boil a breakfast-cup of milk. You'll get clean underclothing in the second drawer of the wardrobe, and shirts in the drawer above, and the collars in the middle drawer of the dressing-table." There were several more injunctions thrown away on me, for my mind was on the cooking of a steak, and I fancied I could smell fried onions. When I came home the first night I tried to persuade myself that I rather liked the hollow, echoing sound of my footsteps in the lobby. The house had a dismal appearance; the furniture was rolled up in sheets. However, I had the consolation of being able to smoke in rooms hitherto prohibited. I could not hurt the curtains,--they were down; and I could not expectorate on the carpet,--it was up; but I could put my feet on the mantelpiece,--it was left: so were the marks of my boots. I tried to read, but the stillness of the house was oppressive, so I went to the club to get some one to speak to. When I returned, the house seemed more deserted than before. I wasn't afraid to sleep in the house by myself, but, just for the fun of the thing, I looked under the beds, but there was no one there, as of course I knew. I intended rising an hour earlier than usual to make breakfast, and was wakened by the bell ringing, but fell asleep. I think it was the bell which wakened me again, and I rose and, after dressing, started to light the fire. It was not till after considerable rummaging that I found the firewood, and it was a good while longer before I could get it to burn. I must have used at least half a dozen newspapers before the wood took fire; and as I had not time to wait on the coal burning, I used several bundles of sticks. The coffee wasn't a success. I had put in three times as much water as was necessary, and it was the colour of beer. I couldn't find the milk,--at least not then; but I found it when I was hurrying out, knocking it over with my foot. It had been laid at the door with the morning paper on the top of it, and I left a stream meandering down the steps. On my way along the street I fancied I was being looked at more than was necessary, and found, by a mirror in a shop window, that my face was peculiarly tattooed with black marks through using my hands for a handkerchief while sweating over the fire. My great success--the steak--was yet to come off. I would have it for supper, and went into a butcher's shop for it on the way home. I had never been in a butcher's before, and did not know what to ask for. I said, "A piece of beef, please." "Yes, sir; where off, sir?" I am not up in the anatomy of the cow, so I said, "Oh! the place you make steaks of." "Yes, sir; how much shall I give you, sir?"