housestood，atthetailofamuddycab-rank，ontheshoresofawidethoroughfareofmud，offeringtofancyafaceofambiguousinvitation。Imightbereceived，Imightoncemorefillmybellythere；ontheotherhand，itwasperhapsthisdaytheboltwasdestinedtofall，andImightbeexpelledinstead，withvulgarhubbub。Itwaspolicytomaketheattempt，andI
knewitwaspolicy；butIhadalready，inthecourseofthatonemorning，enduredtoomanyaffronts，andIfeltIcouldratherstarvethanfaceanother。Ihadcourageandtospareforthefuture，noneleftforthatday；courageforthemaincampaign，butnotasparkofitforthatpreliminaryskirmishofthecabman’srestaurant。Icontinuedaccordinglytosituponmybench，notfarfromtheashesofNapoleon，nowdrowsy，nowlight-headed，nowincompletementalobstruction，oronlyconsciousofananimalpleasureinquiescence；andnowthinking，planning，andrememberingwithunexampledclearness，tellingmyselftalesofsuddenwealth，andgustfullyorderingandgreedilyconsumingimaginarymeals：inthecourseofwhichImusthavedroppedasleep。
ItwastowardsdarkthatIwassuddenlyrecalledtofaminebyacoldsouseofrain，andsprangshiveringtomyfeet。ForamomentIstoodbewildered：thewholetrainofmyreasoninganddreamingpassedafreshthroughmymind；Iwasagaintempted，drawnasifwithcords，bytheimageofthecabman’seating-house，andagainrecoiledfromthepossibilityofinsult。
“Quidortdine。”thoughtItomyself；andtookmyhomewardwaywithwaveringfootsteps，throughrainystreetsinwhichthelampsandtheshop-windowsnowbegantogleam；stillmarshallingimaginarydinnersasIwent。
“Ah，MonsieurDodd。”saidtheporter，“therehasbeenaregisteredletterforyou。Thefacteurwillbringitagainto-morrow。”