He was very reluctant to take precedence of so many respected members of the family, by beginning the round of stories they were to relate as they sat in a goodly circle by the Christmas fire; and he modestly suggested that it would be more correct if "John our esteemed host" (whose health he begged to drink) would have the kindness to begin.For as to himself, he said, he was so little used to lead the way that really-- But as they all cried out here, that he must begin, and agreed with one voice that he might, could, would, and should begin, he left off rubbing his hands, and took his legs out from under his armchair, and did begin.
I have no doubt (said the poor relation) that I shall surprise the assembled members of our family, and particularly John our esteemed host to whom we are so much indebted for the great hospitality with which he has this day entertained us, by the confession I am going to make.But, if you do me the honour to be surprised at anything that falls from a person so unimportant in the family as I am, I can only say that I shall be scrupulously accurate in all I relate.
I am not what I am supposed to be.I am quite another thing.Perhaps before I go further, I had better glance at what I AM supposed to be.
It is supposed, unless I mistake--the assembled members of our family will correct me if I do, which is very likely (here the poor relation looked mildly about him for contradiction); that I am nobody's enemy but my own.That I never met with any particular success in anything.That I failed in business because I was unbusiness-like and credulous--in not being prepared for the interested designs of my partner.That I failed in love, because I was ridiculously trustful--in thinking it impossible that Christiana could deceive me.That I failed in my expectations from my uncle Chill, on account of not being as sharp as he could have wished in worldly matters.That, through life, I have been rather put upon and disappointed in a general way.That I am at present a bachelor of between fifty-nine and sixty years of age, living on a limited income in the form of a quarterly allowance, to which I see that John our esteemed hostwishes me to make no further allusion.
The supposition as to my present pursuits and habits is to the following effect.
I live in a lodging in the Clapham Road--a very clean back room, in a very respectable house--where I am expected not to be at home in the day- time, unless poorly; and which I usually leave in the morning at nine o'clock, on pretence of going to business.I take my breakfast--my roll and butter, and my half-pint of coffee--at the old-established coffee-shop near Westminster Bridge; and then I go into the City--I don't know why-- and sit in Garraway's Coffee House, and on 'Change, and walk about, and look into a few offices and counting-houses where some of my relations or acquaintance are so good as to tolerate me, and where I stand by the fire if the weather happens to be cold.I get through the day in this way until five o'clock, and then I dine: at a cost, on the average, of one and threepence.Having still a little money to spend on my evening's entertainment, I look into the old-established coffee-shop as I go home, and take my cup of tea, and perhaps my bit of toast.So, as the large hand of the clock makes its way round to the morning hour again, I make my way round to the Clapham Road again, and go to bed when I get to my lodging--fire being expensive, and being objected to by the family on account of its giving trouble and making a dirt.
Sometimes, one of my relations or acquaintances is so obliging as to ask me to dinner.Those are holiday occasions, and then I generally walk in the Park.I am a solitary man, and seldom walk with anybody.Not that I am avoided because I am shabby; for I am not at all shabby, having always a very good suit of black on (or rather Oxford mixture, which has the appearance of black and wears much better); but I have got into a habit of speaking low, and being rather silent, and my spirits are not high, and I am sensible that I am not an attractive companion.
The only exception to this general rule is the child of my first cousin, Little Frank.I have a particular affection for that child, and he takes very kindly to me.He is a diffident boy by nature; and in a crowd he is soon run over, as I may say, and forgotten.He and I, however, get on exceedingly well.I have a fancy that the poor child will in time succeedto my peculiar position in the family.We talk but little; still, we understand each other.We walk about, hand in hand; and without much speaking he knows what I mean, and I know what he means.When he was very little indeed, I used to take him to the windows of the toy-shops, and show him the toys inside.It is surprising how soon he found out that I would have made him a great many presents if I had been in circumstances to do it.
Little Frank and I go and look at the outside of the Monument--he is very fond of the Monument--and at the Bridges, and at all the sights that are free.On two of my birthdays, we have dined on e-la-mode beef, and gone at half-price to the play, and been deeply interested.I was once walking with him in Lombard Street, which we often visit on account of my having mentioned to him that there are great riches there--he is very fond of Lombard Street--when a gentleman said to me as he passed by, "Sir, your little son has dropped his glove." I assure you, if you will excuse my remarking on so trivial a circumstance, this accidental mention of the child as mine, quite touched my heart and brought the foolish tears into my eyes.