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get up to…night； by George！〃
The legend 〃Barbox Brothers；〃 in large white letters on two black
surfaces； was very soon afterwards trundling on a truck through a silent
street； and； when the owner of the legend had shivered on the pavement
half an hour； what time the porter's knocks at the Inn Door knocked up the
whole town first； and the Inn last； he groped his way into the close air of a
shut…up house； and so groped between the sheets of a shut…up bed that
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seemed to have been expressly refrigerated for him when last made。
II
〃You remember me； Young Jackson？〃
〃What do I remember if not you？ You are my first remembrance。 It
was you who told me that was my name。 It was you who told me that on
every twentieth of December my life had a penitential anniversary in it
called a birthday。 I suppose the last communication was truer than the
first！〃
〃What am I like； Young Jackson？〃
〃You are like a blight all through the year to me。 You hard…lined；
thin…lipped； repressive； changeless woman with a wax mask on。 You are
like the Devil to me； most of all when you teach me religious things； for
you make me abhor them。〃
〃You remember me； Mr。 Young Jackson？〃 In another voice from
another quarter。
〃Most gratefully； sir。 You were the ray of hope and prospering
ambition in my life。 When I attended your course； I believed that I
should come to be a great healer； and I felt almost happyeven though I
was still the one boarder in the house with that horrible mask； and ate and
drank in silence and constraint with the mask before me； every day。 As I
had done every； every； every day； through my school…time and from my
earliest recollection。〃
〃What am I like； Mr。 Young Jackson？〃
〃You are like a Superior Being to me。 You are like Nature beginning
to reveal herself to me。 I hear you again； as one of the hushed crowd of
young men kindling under the power of your presence and knowledge； and
you bring into my eyes the only exultant tears that ever stood in them。〃
〃You remember Me； Mr。 Young Jackson？〃 In a grating voice from
quite another quarter。
〃Too well。 You made your ghostly appearance in my life one day；
and announced that its course was to be suddenly and wholly changed。
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You showed me which was my wearisome seat in the Galley of Barbox
Brothers。 （When THEY were； if they ever were； is unknown to me； there
was nothing of them but the name when I bent to the oar。） You told me
what I was to do； and what to be paid； you told me afterwards； at intervals
of years； when I was to sign for the Firm； when I became a partner； when I
became the Firm。 I know no more of it； or of myself。〃
〃What am I like； Mr。 Young Jackson？〃
〃You are like my father； I sometimes think。 You are hard enough and
cold enough so to have brought up an acknowledged son。 I see your
scanty figure； your close brown suit； and your tight brown wig； but you；
too； wear a wax mask to your death。 You never by a chance remove itit
never by a chance falls offand I know no more of you。〃
Throughout this dialogue； the traveller spoke to himself at his window
in the morning； as he had spoken to himself at the Junction overnight。
And as he had then looked in the darkness； a man who had turned grey too
soon； like a neglected fire： so he now looked in the sun…light； an ashier
grey； like a fire which the brightness of the sun put out。
The firm of Barbox Brothers had been some offshoot or irregular
branch of the Public Notary and bill…broking tree。 It had gained for itself
a griping reputation before the days of Young Jackson； and the reputation
had stuck to it and to him。 As he had imperceptibly come into possession
of the dim den up in the corner of a court off Lombard Street； on whose
grimy windows the inscription Barbox Brothers had for many long years
daily interposed itself between him and the sky； so he had insensibly found
himself a personage held in chronic distrust； whom it was essential to
screw tight to every transaction in which he engaged； whose word was
never to be taken without his attested bond； whom all dealers with openly
set up guards and wards against。 This character had come upon him
through no act of his own。 It was as if the original Barbox had stretched
himself down upon the office floor； and had thither caused to be conveyed
Young Jackson in his sleep； and had there effected a metempsychosis and
exchange of persons with him。 The discovery aided in its turn by the
deceit of the only woman he had ever loved； and the deceit of the only
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friend he had ever made： who eloped from him to be married together
the discovery； so followed up； completed what his earliest rearing had
begun。 He shrank； abashed； within the form of Barbox； and lifted up his
head and heart no more。
But he did at last effect one great release in his condition。 He broke
the oar he had plied so long； and he scuttled and sank the galley。 He
prevented the gradual retirement of an old conventional business from him；
by taking the initiative and retiring from it。 With enough to live on （though；
after all； with not too much）； he obliterated the firm of Barbox Brothers
from the pages of the Post… Office Directory and the face of the earth；
leaving nothing of it but its name on two portmanteaus。
〃For one must have some name in going about； for people to pick up；〃
he explained to Mugby High Street； through the Inn window； 〃and that
name at least was real once。 Whereas； Young Jackson！Not to mention
its being a sadly satirical misnomer for Old Jackson。〃
He took up his hat and walked out； just in time to see； passing along on
the opposite side of the way； a velveteen man； carrying his da