Kenge and Carboy’s clerk； and then was to go on foot to meet
them on their return。
Well！ I was full of business； examining tradesmen’s books；
adding up columns； paying money； filing receipts； and I daresay
making a great bustle about it； when Mr Guppy was announced
and shown in。 I had had some idea that the clerk who was to be
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sent down； might be the young gentleman who had met me at the
coach…office； and I was glad to see him； because he was associated
with my present happiness。
I scarcely knew him again； he was so uncommonly smart。 He
had an entirely new suit of glossy clothes on； a shining hat； lilac…
kid gloves； a neckerchief of a variety of colours； a large hot…house
flower in his button…hole； and a thick gold ring on his little finger。
Besides which； he quite scented the dining…room with bear’s
grease and other perfumery。 He looked at me with an attention
that quite confused me； when I begged him to take a seat until the
servant should return； and as he sat there； crossing and
uncrossing his legs in a corner； and I asked him if he had had a
pleasant ride； and hoped that Mr Kenge was well； I never looked
at him； but I found him looking at me； in the same scrutinising and
curious way。
When the request was brought to him that he would go upstairs
to Mr Boythorn’s room； I mentioned that he would find lunch
prepared for him when he came down； of which Mr Jarndyce
hoped he would partake。 He said with some embarrassment；
holding the handle of the door； “Shall I have the honour of finding
you here； miss？” I replied yes； I should be there； and he went out
with a bow and another look。
I thought him only awkward and shy； for he was evidently
much embarrassed； and I fancied that the best thing I could do；
would be to wait until I saw that he had everything he wanted； and
then to leave him to himself。 The lunch was soon brought； but it
remained for some time on the table。 The interview with Mr
Boythorn was a long one—and a stormy one too； I should think；
for although his room was at some distance； I heard his loud voice
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rising every now and then like a high wind； and evidently blowing
perfect broadsides of denunciation。
At last Mr Guppy came back； looking something the worse for
the conference。 “My eye； miss；” he said in a low voice； “he’s a
Tartar！”
“Pray take some refreshment； sir；” said I。
Mr Guppy sat down at the table； and began nervously
sharpening the carving…knife on the carving…fork； still looking at
me （as I felt quite sure without looking at him）； in the same
unusual manner。 The sharpening lasted so long； that at last I felt a
kind of obligation on me to raise my eyes； in order that I might
break the spell under which he seemed to labour； of not being able
to leave off。
He immediately looked at the dish； and began to carve。
“What will you take yourself； miss？ You’ll take a morsel of
something？”
“No； thank you；” said I。
“Shan’t I give you a piece of anything at all； miss？” said Mr
Guppy； hurriedly drinking off a glass of wine。
“Nothing； thank you；” said I。 “I have only waited to see that you
have everything you want。 Is there anything I can order for you？”
“No； I am much obliged to you； miss； I’m sure。 I’ve every thing I
can require to make me comfortable—at least I—not
comfortable—I’m never that：” he drank off two more glasses of
wine； one after another。
I thought I had better go。
“I beg your pardon； miss！” said Mr Guppy； rising； when he saw
me rise。 “But would you allow me the favour of a minute’s private
conversation？”
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Not knowing what to say； I sat down again。
“What follows is without prejudice； miss？” said Mr Guppy；
anxiously bringing a chair towards my table。
“I don’t understand what you mean；” said I； wondering。
“It’s one of our law terms； miss。 You won’t make any use of it to
my detriment； at Kenge and Carboy’s； or elsewhere。 If our
conversation shouldn’t lead to anything； I am to be as I was； and
am not to be prejudiced in my situation or worldly prospects。 In
short； it’s in total confidence。”
“I am at a loss； sir；” said I； “to imagine what you can have to
communicate in total confidence to me； whom you have never
seen but once； but I should be very sorry to do you any injury。”
“Thank you； miss。 I’m sure of it—that’s quite sufficient。” All this
time Mr Guppy was either planing his forehead with his
handkerchief； or tightly rubbing the palm of his left hand with the
palm of his right。 “If you would excuse my taking another glass of
wine； miss； I think it might assist me in getting on； without a
continual choke that cannot fail to be mutually unpleasant。”
He did so； and came back again。 I took the opportunity of
moving well behind my table。
“You wouldn’t allow me to offer you one； would you； miss？”
said Mr Guppy； apparently refreshed。
“Not any；” said I。
“Not half a glass？” said Mr Guppy； “quarter？ No！ Then to
proceed。 My present salary； Miss Summerson； at Kenge and
Carboy’s； is two pound a…week。 When I first had the happiness of
looking upon you； it was one…fifteen； and had stood at that figure
for a lengthened period。 A rise of five has since taken place； and a
further rise of five is guaranteed at the expiration of a term not
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exceeding twelve months from the present date。 My mother has a
little property； which takes the form of a small life annuity； upon
which she lives in an independent though unassuming manner； in
the Old Street Road。 She is eminently calculated for a mother…in…
law。 She never interferes； is all for peace； and her disposition easy。
She has her failings—as who has not？—but I never knew her do it
when company was present； at which time you may freely trust
her with wines； spirits； or malt liquors。 My own abode is lodgings
at Penton Place； Pentonville。 It is lowly； but airy； open at the back；
and considered one of the ’ealthiest outlets。 Miss Summerson！ In
the mildest language； I adore you。 Would you be so kind as to
allow me （as I may say） to file a declaration—to make an offer！”
Mr Guppy went down on his knees。 I was well behind my table；
and not much frightened。 I said； “Get up from that ridiculous
position immediately； sir； or you will oblige me to break my
implied promise and ring the bell！”
“Hear me out； miss！” said Mr Guppy； folding his hands。
“I cannot consent to hear another word； sir；” I returned；
“unless you get up from the carpet directly； and go and sit down at
the table； as you ought to do if you have any sense at all。”
He looked piteously； but slowly rose and did so。
“Yet what a mockery it is； miss；” he said； with his hand upon his
heart； and shaking his head at me in a melancholy manner over
the tray； “to be stationed behind food at such a moment。 The soul
recoils from food at such a moment； miss。”
“I beg you to conclude；” said I； “you have asked me to hear you
out； and I beg you to conclude。”
“I will； miss；” said Mr Guppy。 “As I love and honour； so likewise
I obey。 Would that I could make Thee the subject of that vow；
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before the shrine！”
“That is quite impossible；” said I； “and entirely out of the
question。”
“I am aware；” said Mr Guppy； leaning forward over the tray；
and regarding me； as I again strangely felt； though my eyes were
not directed to him； with his late intent look； “I am aware that in a
worldly point of view； according to all appearances； my offer is a
poor one。 But； Miss Summerson！ Angel！—No； don’t ring—I have
been brought up in a sharp school； and am accustomed to a
variety of general practice。 Though a young man； I have ferreted
out evidence； got up
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