Begging and Humiliation

The narrator wanders the streets, chewing a shaving to stave off hunger. He tries to beg from a stranger but is rebuffed. He is moved by a street organ and a little girl begging, but has no money. He tries to give her his waistcoat, but he no longer has one. A policeman disperses the crowd. He goes to the editor's office, but it is closed. He cuts the buttons off his coat to pawn them. He then goes to see the editor, who kindly takes his new article but offers no advance.