Pray-hum, hum--have you ever, by chance, studied the biography of the great Napoleon Buonaparte ?" Mr.Plimmins gulped down his tea, and kicked Philip under the table.
Philip looked fiercely at the foreman, and replied, sullenly, "No, sir." "That's a pity.

Napoleon Buonaparte was a very great man,--very! You have seen his cast ?--there it is, on the dumb waiter! Look at it! see a likeness, eh ?" "Likeness, sir?
I never saw Napoleon Buonaparte." "Never saw him! No, just look round the room.

Who does that bust put you in mind of?
who does it resemble ?" Here Mr.Plaskwith rose, and placed himself in an attitude; his hand in his waistcoat, and his face pensively inclined towards the tea-table.
"Now fancy me at St.Helena; this table is the ocean.

Now, then, who is that cast like, Mr.Philip Morton ?" "I suppose, sir, it is like you!" "Ah, that it is! strikes every one! Does it not, Mrs.P., does it not?
And when you have known me longer, you will find a moral similitude--a moral, sir! Straightforward--short--to the point--bold--determined!" "Bless me, Mr.P.!" said Mrs.Plaskwith, very querulously, "do make haste with your tea; the young gentleman, I suppose, wants to go home, and the coach passes in a quarter of an hour." "Have you seen Kean in Richard the Third, Mr.Morton ?" asked Mr.
Plimmins.
"I have never seen a play." "Never seen a play! How very odd!" "Not at all odd, Mr.Plimmins," said the stationer.

"Mr.Morton has known troubles--so hand him the hot toast." Silent and morose, but rather disdainful than sad, Philip listened to the babble round him, and observed the ungenial characters with which he was to associate.