His boarding-place had filled up with the approach of winter, but with the class of men he already knew too well.

Even though he met them only at meals, their atmosphere was intolerable to him.

When a room next his office fell vacant, and went begging at a very cheap price, he decided to use it as a bedroom.

So he moved his few belongings on his return from his visit to his mother's.
Although he had not been particularly friendly to the other boarders, nor made himself obtrusive in the least, not one of them failed to speak of his leaving.

Two or three affected to be pleased, but "Butter-and-cheese" said he "was a first-rate chap," and this seemed to gain the assent of the table generally.
"I'm dreadfully sorry to lose him," his landlady informed her other boarders, availing herself, perhaps, of the chance to deliver a side hit at some of them.