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shouted； 〃Remember thou art mortal！〃； before the eyes of the British
warrior rode the undertaker and his coffin； telling him that he too must die！
Mark well the spot！ A hundred years ago Albion Street （where comic
Power dwelt； Milesia's darling son）… …Albion Street was a desert。 The
square of Connaught was without its penultimate； and； strictly speaking；
NAUGHT。 The Edgware Road was then a road； 'tis true； with tinkling
waggons passing now and then； and fragrant walls of snowy hawthorn
blossoms。 The ploughman whistled over Nutford Place； down the green
solitudes of Sovereign Street the merry milkmaid led the lowing kine。
Here； then； in the midst of green fields and sweet airbefore ever
omnibuses were； and when Pineapple Turnpike and Terrace were alike
unknownhere stood Tyburn： and on the road towards it； perhaps to enjoy
the prospect； stood； in the year 1725； the habitation of Mr。 John Hayes。
One fine morning in the year 1725； Mrs。 Hayes； who had been abroad
in her best hat and riding…hood； Mr。 Hayes； who for a wonder had
accompanied her； and Mrs。 Springatt； a lodger； who for a remuneration
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had the honour of sharing Mrs。 Hayes's friendship and table： all returned；
smiling and rosy； at about half…past ten o'clock； from a walk which they
had taken to Bayswater。 Many thousands of people were likewise seen
flocking down the Oxford Road； and you would rather have thought； from
the smartness of their appearance and the pleasure depicted in their
countenances； that they were just issuing from a sermon； than quitting the
ceremony which they had been to attend。
The fact is； that they had just been to see a gentleman hanged；a cheap
pleasure； which the Hayes family never denied themselves； and they
returned home with a good appetite to breakfast； braced by the walk； and
tickled into hunger； as it were； by the spectacle。 I can recollect； when I was
a gyp at Cambridge； that the 〃men〃 used to have breakfast…parties for the
very same purpose； and the exhibition of the morning acted infallibly upon
the stomach； and caused the young students to eat with much voracity。
Well； Mrs。 Catherine； a handsome； well…dressed； plump； rosy woman
of three or four and thirty （and when； my dear； is a woman handsomer
than at that age？）； came in quite merrily from her walk； and entered the
back…parlour； which looked into a pleasant yard； or garden； whereon the
sun was shining very gaily； and where； at a table covered with a nice white
cloth； laid out with some silver mugs； too； and knives； all with different
crests and patterns； sat an old gentleman reading in an old book。
〃Here we are at last； Doctor；〃 said Mrs。 Hayes； 〃and here's his speech。〃
She produced the little halfpenny tract； which to this day is sold at the
gallows…foot upon the death of every offender。 〃I've seen a many men
turned off； to be sure； but I never did see one who bore it more like a man
than he did。〃
〃My dear；〃 said the gentleman addressed as Doctor； 〃he was as cool
and as brave as steel； and no more minded hanging than tooth…drawing。〃
〃It was the drink that ruined him；〃 said Mrs。 Cat。
〃Drink； and bad company。 I warned him； my dear；I warned him years
ago： and directly he got into Wild's gang； I knew that he had not a year to
run。 Ah； why； my love； will men continue such dangerous courses；〃
continued the Doctor； with a sigh； 〃and jeopardy their lives for a miserable
watch or a snuff…box； of which Mr。 Wild takes three…fourths of the produce？
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But here comes the breakfast； and； egad； I am as hungry as a lad of
twenty。〃
Indeed； at this moment Mrs。 Hayes's servant appeared with a smoking
dish of bacon and greens； and Mr。 Hayes himself ascended from the cellar
（of which he kept the key）； bearing with him a tolerably large jug of small…
beer。 To this repast the Doctor； Mrs。 Springatt （the other lodger）； and Mr。
and Mrs。 Hayes； proceeded with great alacrity。 A fifth cover was laid； but
not used； the company remarking that 〃Tom had very likely found some
acquaintances at Tyburn； with whom he might choose to pass the
morning。〃
Tom was Master Thomas Billings； now of the age of sixteen： slim；
smart； five feet ten inches in height； handsome； sallow in complexion；
black…eyed and black…haired。 Mr。 Billings was apprentice to a tailor； of
tolerable practice； who was to take him into partnership at the end of his
term。 It was supposed； and with reason； that Tom would not fail to make a
fortune in this business； of which the present head was one Beinkleider； a
German。 Beinkleider was skilful in his trade （after the manner of his
nation； which in breeches and metaphysicsin inexpressibles and
incomprehensiblesmay instruct all Europe）； but too fond of his pleasure。
Some promissory notes of his had found their way into Hayes's hands； and
had given him the means not only of providing Master Billings with a
cheap apprenticeship； and a cheap partnership afterwards； but would
empower him； in one or two years after the young partner had joined the
firm； to eject the old one altogether。 So that there was every prospect that；
when Mr。 Billings was twenty…one years of age； poor Beinkleider would
have to act； not as his master； but his journeyman。
Tom was a very precocious youth； was supplied by a doting mother
with plenty of pocket…money； and spent it with a number of lively
companions of both sexes； at plays； bull…baitings； fairs； jolly parties on the
river； and such…like innocent amusements。 He could throw a main； too； as
well as his elders； had pinked his man； in a row at Madam King's in the
Piazza； and was much respected at the Roundhouse。
Mr。 Hayes was not very fond of this promising young gentleman；
indeed； he had the baseness to bear malice； because； in a quarrel which
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Catherine： A Story
occurred about two years previously； he； Hayes； being desirous to chastise
Mr。 Billings； had found himself not only quite incompetent； but actually at
the mercy of the boy； who struck him over the head with a joint…stool；
felled him to the ground； and swore he would have his life。 The Doctor；
who was then also a lodger at Mr。 Hayes's； interposed； and restored the
combatants； not to friendship； but to peace。 Hayes never afterwards
attempted to lift his hand to the young man； but contented himself with
hating him profoundly。 In this sentiment Mr。 Billings participated cordially；
and； quite unlike Mr。 Hayes； who never dared to show his dislike； used on
every occasion when they met； by actions； looks； words； sneers； and curses；
to let his stepfather know the opinion which he had of him。 Why did not
Hayes discard the boy altogether？ Because； if he did so； he was really
afraid of his life； and because he trembled before Mrs。 Hayes； his lady； as
the leaf trembles before the tempest in October。 His breath was not his
own； but hers； his money； too； had been chiefly of her getting；for though
he was as stingy and mean as mortal man can be； and so likely to save
much； he had not the genius for GETTING which Mrs。 Hayes possessed。
She kept his books （for she had learned to read and write by this time）； she
made his bargains； and she directed the operations of the poor…spirited
little capitalist。 When bills became due； and debtors pressed for time； then
she brought Hayes's own professional merits into play。 The man was as
deaf and cold as a rock； never did poor tradesmen gain a penny from him；
never were the bailiffs delayed one single minute from their prey。 The
Beinkleider business； for instance； showed pretty well the gen