CHAPTER LV.
Bread and Water--Fair Play--Fashionable Life--Colonel B-----Joseph Sell--The Kindly Glow--Easiest Manner Imaginable.
"I must do something," said I, as I sat that night in my lonely apartment, with some bread and a pitcher of water before me.
Thereupon taking some of the bread, and eating it, I considered what I was to do.

"I have no idea what I am to do," said I, as I stretched my hand towards the pitcher, "unless"-- and here I took a considerable draught--"I write a tale or a novel--That bookseller," I continued, speaking to myself, "is certainly much in need of a tale or a novel, otherwise he would not advertise for one.

Suppose I write one, I appear to have no other chance of extricating myself from my present difficulties; surely it was Fate that conducted me to his window." "I will do it," said I, as I struck my hand against the table; "I will do it." Suddenly a heavy cloud of despondency came over me.

Could I do it?
Had I the imagination requisite to write a tale or a novel?
"Yes, yes," said I, as I struck my hand again against the table, "I can manage it; give me fair play, and I can accomplish anything." But should I have fair play?
I must have something to maintain myself with whilst I wrote my tale, and I had but eighteen pence in the world.
Would that maintain me whilst I wrote my tale?
Yes, I thought it would, provided I ate bread, which did not cost much, and drank water, which cost nothing; it was poor diet, it was true, but better men than myself had written on bread and water; had not the big man told me so?
or something to that effect, months before?
It was true there was my lodging to pay for; but up to the present time I owed nothing, and perhaps, by the time the people of the house asked me for money, I should have written a tale or a novel, which would bring me in money; I had paper, pens, and ink, and, let me not forget them, I had candles in my closet, all paid for, to light me during my night work.
Enough, I would go doggedly to work upon my tale or novel.
But what was the tale or novel to be about?
Was it to be a tale of fashionable life, about Sir Harry Somebody, and the Countess Something?
But I knew nothing about fashionable people, and cared less; therefore how should I attempt to describe fashionable life?
What should the tale consist of?
The life and adventures of some one.

Good--but of whom?
Did not Mr.Petulengro mention one Jemmy Abershaw?
Yes.