So Mr.Augustus Cooper made up his mind that he would not stand it any longer, and had that very morning expressed to his mother a firm determination to be 'blowed,' in the event of his not being instantly provided with a street-door key.

And he was walking down Holborn-hill, thinking about all these things, and wondering how he could manage to get introduced into genteel society for the first time, when his eyes rested on Signor Billsmethi's announcement, which it immediately struck him was just the very thing he wanted; for he should not only be able to select a genteel circle of acquaintance at once, out of the five-and-seventy pupils at four-and-sixpence a quarter, but should qualify himself at the same time to go through a hornpipe in private society, with perfect ease to himself and great delight to his friends.
So, he stopped the unstamped advertisement--an animated sandwich, composed of a boy between two boards--and having procured a very small card with the Signor's address indented thereon, walked straight at once to the Signor's house--and very fast he walked too, for fear the list should be filled up, and the five-and-seventy completed, before he got there.

The Signor was at home, and, what was still more gratifying, he was an Englishman! Such a nice man--and so polite! The list was not full, but it was a most extraordinary circumstance that there was only just one vacancy, and even that one would have been filled up, that very morning, only Signor Billsmethi was dissatisfied with the reference, and, being very much afraid that the lady wasn't select, wouldn't take her.
'And very much delighted I am, Mr.Cooper,' said Signor Billsmethi, 'that I did _not_ take her.

I assure you, Mr.Cooper--I don't say it to flatter you, for I know you're above it--that I consider myself extremely fortunate in having a gentleman of your manners and appearance, sir.' 'I am very glad of it too, sir,' said Augustus Cooper.
'And I hope we shall be better acquainted, sir,' said Signor Billsmethi.
'And I'm sure I hope we shall too, sir,' responded Augustus Cooper.

Just then, the door opened, and in came a young lady, with her hair curled in a crop all over her head, and her shoes tied in sandals all over her ankles.
'Don't run away, my dear,' said Signor Billsmethi; for the young lady didn't know Mr.Cooper was there when she ran in, and was going to run out again in her modesty, all in confusion-like.