Page:Gissing - The Unclassed, vol. I, 1884.djvu/60

 dwelling part, though, as a matter of course, without any display of taste. The ground-floor consisted of offices; above were eating-room, bed-room, and study; on the second floor the sleeping-room of the two servants he kept, and chambers used for storing miscellaneous goods, which came into his hands in the way of business. One of these chambers communicated by a door with the adjoining house, which tenement was also rented by our friend. Its ground-floor was a pawnbroker’s shop, the business being in the hands of Mr. Woodstock, though another name was painted up. To this shop he owed very much of his wealth.

I have spoken of his “study,” and thereby hangs another item of character. On entering this room one was puzzled to account for its peculiar appearance. A table in the midst was entirely covered with a great litter of newspapers and periodicals; the same kind of literature was heaped about the floor here and there. Two walls were quite hidden by book-shelves, the library presenting anything but an attractive