For himself, he should find some way of earning bread and cheese; he could no longer stand on his dignity, and talk of independence, that was plain.
When at length his calamitous partner had gone, he made an indifferent lunch on the cold meat he found in Mrs.Hopper's precincts, and then decided that he had better take a walk; to sit still and brood was the worst possible way of facing such a crisis.

There was no friend with whom he could discuss the situation; none whose companionship would just now do him any particular good.

Better to walk twenty miles, and tire himself out, and see how things looked after a good night's sleep, So he put on his soft hat, and took his walking-stick, and slammed the door behind him.

Some one was coming up the stairs; sunk in his own thoughts he paid no heed, even when the other man stood in front of him.

Then a familiar voice claimed his attention.
"Do you want to cut me, Warburton ?".