London Bridge at half-
past one! I do not suppose I had ever been there at half-past one
in my life. I saw a crowd still passing both southwards and
northwards. At half-past nine it all went one way and at half-past
six another. It was the morning and evening crowd which was the
people to me. These half-past one o'clock creatures were strange to
me, loafers, nondescripts. I was faint and sick when I reached
home, for I walked all the way, and after vainly trying to eat
something went straight to bed. But the next post brought me a note
saying that Jackman and Larkins were willing to engage me at a
salary of 100 pounds a year--much more, it was added, than they
would have paid for more efficient service, but conceded as a
recognition of the past. The truth was, as I afterwards found out,
that Larkins persuaded Jackman that it would increase their
reputation to take old Whittaker. Larkins too had become a little
tired of soliciting orders, and I could act as his substitute. I
was known to nearly all the houses with which they did business and
very likely should gain admittance where a stranger would be denied.
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