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THE GOLDEN AGE 'In Rome perhaps?' said he.

'Yes, in Rome,' I answered; 'or Piccy-the-other-place, or somewhere.'

'Or else,' said he, 'in that other city—when we've found the way there. And I'll look out for you, and you'll sing out as soon as you see me. And we'll go down the street arm-in-arm, and into all the shops, and then I'll choose my house, and you'll choose your house, and we'll live there like princes and good fellows.'

'O, but you'll stay in my house, won't you?' I cried; 'I wouldn't ask everybody; but I'll ask you.'

He affected to consider a moment; then 'Right!' he said: 'I believe you mean it, and I will come and stay with you. I won't go to anybody else, if they ask me ever so much. And I'll stay quite a long time, too, and I won't be any trouble.'

Upon this compact we parted, and I went down-heartedly from the man who understood me, back to the house where I never could do anything right. How was it that everything seemed natural and sensible to him, which these 174