Ned consented to be dragged, and said something to the effect that he hoped to have the pleasure of standing treat on some future occasion.
“Now, then,” said Gorman, somewhat firmly, though not sternly, for he knew that Ned Hooper was not to be browbeat; “are you sober enough to attend to what I’ve got to say?”
“Shober as a dudge,” answered Ned.
Gorman looked earnestly in his face for a few moments, and then began to talk to him in a continuous strain by way of testing him.
“C’found these cabs an’ b–busseses; a feller c–can’t hear a word,” said Ned.
“Your lodgin’s an’t far off, are they?”
“Close ’t ’and,” answered Ned.
“Let’s go to ’em,” said Gorman.
In silence Ned Hooper led the way, and, conducting his friend into his “chamber,” as he styled his poor abode, begged him to be seated, and threw himself into an armchair beside the little fire. There was a pipe on the chimney-piece, which Ned began to fill, while Gorman opened the conversation.
“You’re hard up, rather, just now?” said the latter.