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