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lot of fellows waiting to welcome him under the skylight； and of what a jolly lot the 〃Skylarkers〃 really are； and of Mr。 Slade； Oliver's employer； whom Fred knows and who comes from Fred's own town； and of how much Mr。 Slade likes a certain new clerk； one Oliver Horn； of Kennedy Square； he having said so the night before； this same Horn being the precise individual whose arm at that very moment was locked in Fred's own and which was now getting an extra squeeze merely for the purposes of identification。
All of this Fred poured into Oliver's willing ear without stopping to take breath； as they mounted the four long flights of stairs that led to the top floor； where； under the roof； there lived a group of Bohemians as unique in their personalities as could be found the great city over。
When the two pairs of feet had at last reached the last flight of steps under the flat roof of the house； the 〃Skylarkers〃 were singing 〃Old Dog Tray〃 at the top of their voices； to the accompaniment of a piano； and of some other instruments； the character of which our young hero failed to recognize； although the strains had grown louder and louder as the young men mounted the stairs。
As Oliver stood in the open doorway and looked in through the haze of tobacco…smoke upon the group； he instantly became conscious that a new world had opened before him； a world； as he had always pictured it； full of mystery and charm； peopled by a race as fascinating to him as any Mr。 Crocker had ever described； and as new and strange as if its members had been the denizens of another planet。
The interior was not a room； but a square low…ceiled hall into which opened some six or more small bedrooms； slept in； whenever sleep was possible； by an equal number of Miss Teetum's boarders。 The construction and appointments of this open garret； with two exceptions； were similar to those of all other garrets of its class： it had walls and ceiling； once whitewashed； and now discolored by roof… leaks from a weather…beaten skylight； its floor was bare of carpet； and its well…worn woodwork was stained with time and use。 Chairs； however； were scarce； most of the boarders and their guests being seated on the floor。
The two exceptions； already noted； were some crisp； telling sketches； big and little； in color and black…and… white； the work of the artist members of this coterie； which covered every square inch of the leak…stained surface of ceiling and wall； and the yellow…keyed； battered piano which occupied the centre of the open space and which stood immediately under two flaring gas…jets。 At the moment of Fred's and Oliver's arrival the top of this instrument was ornamented by two musically inclined gentlemen； one seated cross… legged like a Turk； voicing the misfortunes of Dog Tray； the other； with his legs resting on a chair； beating time to the melody with a cane。 This cane； at short intervals； he brought down upon the shoulders of any ambitious member who attempted to usurp his place。 The chief object of the gathering； so far as Oliver's hasty glance could determine； was undoubtedly the making of as much noise as possible。
While the young men stood looking into the room waiting for the song to cease prior to Oliver's entry and introduction； Fred whispered hurriedly into his guest's ear some of the names； occupations； and characteristics of the group before him。
The cross…legged man with the long neck； drooping mustache； and ropy black hair； was none other than Bowdoin； the artistthe only American who had taken a medal at Munich for landscape； but who was now painting portraits and starving slowly in consequence。 He mounted to this eyry every Friday night； so as to be reminded of the good old days at Schwartz's。 The short； big…mustached； bald… headed man swinging the cane； was BianchiJulius Bianchiknown to the Skylarkers as 〃The Pole；〃 and to the world at large as an accomplished lithographer and maker of mezzotints。 Bianchi was a piece of the early artistic driftwood cast upon our shoresan artist every inch of himdrawing from life； and handling the crayon like a master。
The pale…faced young fellow at the piano； with bulging watch…crystal eye…glasses and hair tucked behind his ears； was the well…known； all…round musician； Wenby Simmonsotherwise known as 〃Pussy Me…ow〃 a name associated in some way with the strings of his violin。 This virtuoso played in the orchestra at the Winter Garden； and occupied the bedroom next to Fred's。
The clean…shaven； well…groomed young Englishman standing behind Simmons and holding a coal… scuttle half full of coal which he shook with deafening jangle to help swell the chorus； was 〃My Lord Cockburn〃 so calledan exchange clerk in a banking… house。 He occupied the room opposite Fred's。
With the ending of the chorus Fred Stone stepped into the open space with his arm through that of his guest； and the noise was hushed long enough for the entire party to welcome the young Southernera welcome which kindled into a glow of enthusiasm when they caught the look of frank undisguised pleasure which lighted his face； and noticed the unaffected bow with which he entered the room； shaking hands with each one as Fred introduced himand all with that warm； hearty； simple； courteous manner peculiar to his people。
The slight ceremony overalmost every Friday night some new guest was welcomedFred seated himself on the floor with his back to the whitewashed wall； although two chairs were at once offered them； and made room for Oliver； who settled down beside him。
As they sat leaning back； Oliver's eyes wandering over the room drinking in the strange； fascinating scene before him； as bewildering as it was unexpected； Frednow that they were closer to the scene of action； again whispered or shouted； as the suddenly revived noise permitted； into Oliver's alert and delighted ears； such additional facts concerning the other members present as he thought would interest his guest。
The fat man behind the piano astride of a chair； a pipe in his mouth and a black velvet skull…cap on his head； was Tom Waller； the sheep…painter…Thomas Brandon Waller； he signed itknown as the Walrus。 He； too； was a boarder and a delightful fellow； although an habitual grumbler。 His highest ambition was to affix an N。 A。 at the end of his name； but he had failed of election by thirty votes out of forty cast。 That exasperating event he had duly celebrated at Pfaff's in various continued libations covering a week； and had accordingly； on many proper and improper occasions； renewed and recelebrated the event； breathing out meanwhile； between his pewter mugs； scathing anathemas against the 〃idiots〃 who had defeated him out of his just rights； and who were stupid enough to believe in the school of Verboeckhoeven。 Slick and shiny Verboeckhoeven； 〃the mechanic；〃 he would call him； with his fists closed tight； who painted the hair on every one of his sheep as if it were curled by a pair of barber's tongsnot dirty and woolly and full of suggestions as； of course； he the great Waller； alone of all living animal…painters depicted it。 All of which； to Waller's credit； it must be parenthetically stated； these same 〃idiots〃 learned to recognize in after years as true； when that distinguished animal…painter took a medal at the Salon for the same picture which the Jury of N。 A。's had rejected at their Spring Exhibition。
The irreproachable； immaculate young person； with eyes half…closed； lying back in the arm…chair one which he had brought from his own roomwas 〃Ruffle…shirt〃 Tomlins。 He was the only member who dressed every day for dinner； whether he was going out afterward or notspike…tailed coat； white tie and all。 Tomlins not only knew intimately a lady of high degree who owned a box at the Academy of Music； in Fourteenth Street； and who invited him to sit in it at least once a season； but he had besides a large visiting acquaintance among the people of quality living on Irving Place。 A very agreeable and kindly little man was 〃Ruffle…shirt〃 Tomlins so Fred saidthe sort of a little man whose philosophy of life was based on the possibility of catching more innocent； unwary flies with honey than he could with vinegar； and who； in consequence； always said nice things about everybodysometimes in a loud tone enough for everybody to hear。 This last statement of Fred's Tomlins confirmed ten minutes later by remarking； in a stage whisper to Waller：
〃Did you see how that young Mr。 Horn entered the room？ Nobody like these high…bred Southerners； my boy。 Quite the air of a man of the world hasn't he？〃 To all of which the distinguished sheep… painter made no other reply than a slight nod of the head； as he blew a cloud of smoke toward the ceiling Tomlins's immaculate appearance being a constant offence to the untidy painter。
The member with the stentorian voice； who was roaring out his opinions to Cockburn； Fred continued； was 〃Fog…horn〃 Cranch； the auctioneer。 His room was next to Waller's。 His weaknesses were gay…colored waistcoats and astounding cravats。 He varied these portions of his dress according to wind； weather； and sales of the dayselecting blue for sunshiny mornings； black for rainy ones； green for pictures； red for household furniture； white for real