THE appearance of the man whom Mrs. Hardwick addressed so familiarly
was more picturesque than pleasing. He had a large, broad face,
which, not having been shaved for a week, looked like a wilderness
of stubble. His nose indicated habitual indulgence in alcoholic
beverages. His eyes, likewise, were bloodshot, and his skin looked
coarse and blotched; his coat was thrown aside, displaying a shirt
which bore evidence of having been useful in its day and generation.
The same remark may apply to his nether integuments, which were
ventilated at each knee, indicating a most praiseworthy regard to
the laws of health. He was sitting in a chair pitched back against
the wall, with his feet resting on another, and a short Dutch pipe
in his mouth, from which volumes of smoke were pouring.

Ida thought she had never seen before so disgusting a man. She
continued to gaze at him, half in astonishment, half in terror, till
the object of her attention exclaimed,--

"Well, little girl, what you're looking at? Hain't you never seen a
gentleman before?"

Ida clung the closer to her companion, who, she was surprised to
find, did not resent the man's impertinence.

"Well, Dick, how've you got along since I've been gone?" asked Mrs.
Hardwick, to Ida's unbounded astonishment.

"Oh, so so."