“Dear me!” he said, considering. “The ’ouse that I am stopping at⁠—a sort of a private hotel and boarding ’ouse, Master Copperfield, near the New River ’ed⁠—will have gone to bed these two hours.”

“I am sorry,” I returned, “that there is only one bed here, and that I⁠—”

“Oh, don’t think of mentioning beds, Master Copperfield!” he rejoined ecstatically, drawing up one leg. “But would you have any objections to my laying down before the fire?”

“If it comes to that,” I said, “pray take my bed, and I’ll lie down before the fire.”