CHAPTER XIV

WILLIAM BENT PITMAN HEARS OF SOMETHING TO HIS ADVANTAGE

On the morning of Sunday, William Dent Pitman rose at his usual hour, although with something more than the usual reluctance. The day before (it should be explained) an addition had been made to his family in the person of a lodger. Michael Finsbury had acted sponsor in the business, and guaranteed the weekly bill; on the other hand, no doubt with a spice of his prevailing jocularity, he had drawn a depressing portrait of the lodger's character. Mr. Pitman had been led to understand his guest was not good company; he had approached the gentleman with fear, and had rejoiced to find himself the entertainer of an angel. At tea he had been vastly pleased; till hard on one in the morning he had sat entranced by eloquence and progressively fortified with information in the studio; and now, as he reviewed over his toilet the harmless pleasures of the evening, the future smiled upon him with revived attractions. "Mr. Finsbury is indeed an acquisition," he remarked to himself; and as he entered the little parlour, where the table was already laid for breakfast, the cordiality of his greeting would have befitted an acquaintanceship already old.

"I am delighted to see you, sir"--these were his expressions--"and I trust you have slept well."

"Accustomed as I have been for so long to a life of almost perpetual change," replied the guest, "the disturbance so often complained of by the more sedentary, as attending their first night in (what is called) a new bed, is a complaint from which I am entirely free."

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. what happened the day before?
2. what did Pitman think about the lodger?
3. did he change his mind about him?
4. what is the story about?
5. what day does it take place?
6. did he wake up at usual time?
7. what was different this morning?
8. what did he say to himself about Finsbury?
9. what was on the table when he entered?
10. what room was this in?
1. an addition had been made
2. more than the usual reluctance.
3. yes
4. WILLIAM BENT PITMAN HEARS OF SOMETHING TO HIS ADVANTAGE
5. Sunday
6. yes
7. more than the usual reluctance.
8. Mr. Finsbury is indeed an acquisition,
9. breakfast
10. the little parlour,