satovermyhouselesscup，ponderingwheretogonext，amaninahighandlongsnuff-colouredcoat，andshoes，and，tothebestofmybelief，nothingelsebutahat，whotookoutofhishatalargecoldmeatpudding；ameatpuddingsolargethatitwasaverytightfit，andbroughttheliningofthehatoutwithit。Thismysteriousmanwasknownbyhispudding，foronhisentering，themanofsleepbroughthimapintofhottea，asmallloaf，andalargeknifeandforkandplate。Lefttohimselfinhisbox，hestoodthepuddingonthebaretable，and，insteadofcuttingit，stabbedit，overhand，withtheknife，likeamortalenemy；thentooktheknifeout，wipeditonhissleeve，torethepuddingasunderwithhisfingers，andateitallup。Theremembranceofthismanwiththepuddingremainswithmeastheremembranceofthemostspectralpersonmyhouselessnessencountered。TwiceonlywasIinthatestablishment，andtwiceIsawhimstalkinasIshouldsay，justoutofbed，andpresentlygoingbacktobed，takeouthispudding，stabhispudding，wipethedagger，andeathispuddingallup。Hewasamanwhosefigurepromisedcadaverousness，butwhohadanexcessivelyredface，thoughshapedlikeahorse’s。Onthesecondoccasionofmyseeinghim，hesaidhuskilytothemanofsleep，’AmIredto-night？’’Youare，’heuncompromisinglyanswered。’Mymother，’saidthespectre，’wasared-facedwomanthatlikeddrink，andIlookedatherhardwhenshelaidinhercoffin，andItookthecomplexion。’Somehow，thepuddingseemedanunwholesomepuddingafterthat，andIputmyselfinitswaynomore。
Whentherewasnomarket，orwhenIwantedvariety，arailwayterminuswiththemorningmailscomingin，wasremunerativecompany。Butlikemostofthecompanytobehadinthisworld，itlastedonlyaveryshorttime。Thestationlampswouldburstoutablaze，theporterswouldemergefromplacesofconcealment，thecabsandtruckswouldrattletotheirplacesthepost-officecartswerealreadyintheirs，and，finally，thebellwouldstrikeup，andthetrainwouldcomebangingin。Buttherewerefewpassengersandlittleluggage，andeverythingscuttledawaywiththegreatestexpedition。Thelocomotivepost-offices，withtheirgreatnets-
asiftheyhadbeendraggingthecountryforbodies-wouldflyopenastotheirdoors，andwoulddisgorgeasmelloflamp，anexhaustedclerk，aguardinaredcoat，andtheirbagsofletters；
theenginewouldblowandheaveandperspire，likeanenginewipingitsforeheadandsayingwhatarunithadhad；andwithintenminutesthelampswereout，andIwashouselessandaloneagain。
Butnow，thereweredrivencattleonthehighroadnear，wantingascattlealwaysdototurnintothemidstofstonewalls，andsqueezethemselvesthroughsixinches’widthofironrailing，andgettingtheirheadsdownalsoascattlealwaysdofortossing-