Meanwhile he was not only lonely but was experiencing the truth that even young bachelors are not exempt from worry, There is some unex-Dlained trouble with a butcher's boy.
The Butcher wrote me last night say that his boy was going to take out warrant against me for an assault T wrote. word back that. the sooner (Sit. the better. and that Thad. tne Stucted my clerk to take In no more {insolent attempts to extort money. "You shall see. this' precious correspondence, 09, tovmorrow, Had Dickens a clerk? Or was the existence of a clerk assumed for the Purpose of impressing the butcher? More probably the name was. conferred upon a male servant shared with other occupants of Furnival Inn. It does not matter so much the identity of the butcher's boy. Ca who Is mentioned tantalizing brevity in another letter about this time?
Tam very glad to hear that your Mama is" pleased. with the report. of the kitchen. I hope she is not over= come at my cruelty in being. vexed with the "Tomfoolery of the "Sun School, Paragon.
Again, what kitchen? The sentence suggests that a house had been taken but evidence to that effect is lacking and, indeed, unlikely. Full as they are of little de-fails, the letters present plenty of such riddles. No, there is small inication of a house. but by this time Dickens was gelling launched on his Mterary career.
Thave had a visit from the Publisher this morning, and the story cannot be, any longer elayed—it' must be done fosmorrow. As there are more impor: (ant considerations. than the mere Pay ment' for the story. involved. too. must exercise a little self denial, and fet to work, They (Chapman and Hall) have made me an offer £i¢ @ month to write 4nd edit anew publication they con= {emplate. entirely, by myself: to. be Dublished monthiy@ond each number to, Contain four wood cuts. Tam to make estimate and calculation, "and. five them_a decisive answer on Friday morning. The work will be no joke, Dut emolument is too tempting to resist
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.