Page 454 - bleak-house

instead of going straight to them, which has left a smear all
round the four walls, conventionally called ‘Phil’s mark.’
This custodian of George’s Gallery in George’s absence
concludes his proceedings, when he has locked the great
doors and turned out all the lights but one, which he leaves
to glimmer, by dragging out from a wooden cabin in a cor-
ner two mattresses and bedding. These being drawn to
opposite ends of the gallery, the trooper makes his own bed
and Phil makes his.
‘Phil!’ says the master, walking towards him without his
coat and waistcoat, and looking more soldierly than ever in
his braces. ‘You were found in a doorway, weren’t you?’
‘Gutter,’ says Phil. ‘Watchman tumbled over me.’
‘Then vagabondizing came natural to YOU from the be-
ginning.’
‘As nat’ral as possible,’ says Phil.
‘Good night!’
‘Good night, guv’ner.’
Phil cannot even go straight to bed, but finds it neces-
sary to shoulder round two sides of the gallery and then
tack off at his mattress. The trooper, after taking a turn or
two in the rifledistance and looking up at the moon now
shining through the skylights, strides to his own mattress
by a shorter route and goes to bed too.

454 Bleak House