"Yes, sir,—for board and lodging."
Bullfinch opened his eyes still wider, and echoed "Board and lodging!"
"The bill, sir, is four-and-twenty pounds."
Another echo, and still higher uplifting of the eyebrows: "Where do you come from?"
"Blackheath! What! through the rain?"
The young man ventured a smile as he replied, "No, sir; I wish I had."
"Board and lodging!—you must have made a mistake."
"Oh no, sir," said the young man; "here is the bill,—twenty-four weeks, at a pound a-week, as a parlour-boarder, at Mrs. Twig's establishment for young ladies."
Theophilus looked suspiciously at his silver spoons, and eyed the bell-rope. But a new light seemed to break upon him at the mention of the word "establishment," as he replied,