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           ,aglassofclaret,andasixpennycigarforthestoutgentleman—inall£30s.6d.!”

           Idon’tthinkIwaseversosurprisedinmylife,andhadonlysufficientbreathtoinformhimthatIhadreceivedaprivateinvitation,towhichheansweredthathewasperfectlywellawareofthat;butthattheinvitationdidn’tincludeeatablesanddrinkables.Agentlemanwhowasstandingatthebarcorroboratedthewaiter’sstatement,andassuredmeitwasquitecorrect.

           ThewaitersaidhewasextremelysorryifIhadbeenunderanymisapprehension;butitwasnothisfault.Ofcoursetherewasnothingtobedonebuttopay.So,afterturningoutmypockets,Ijustmanagedtoscrapeupsufficient,allbutnineshillings;butthemanager,onmygivingmycardtohim,said:“That’sallright.”

           Idon’tthinkIeverfeltmorehumiliatedinmylife,andIdeterminedtokeepthismisfortunefromCarrie,foritwouldentirelydestroythepleasanteveningshewasenjoying.Ifelttherewasnomoreenjoymentformethatevening,anditbeinglate,IsoughtCarrieandMrs.Lupkin.Carriesaidshewasquitereadytogo,andMrs.Lupkin,aswewerewishingher“Good-night,”askedCarrieandmyselfifweeverpaidavisittoSouthend?OnmyreplyingthatIhadn’tbeenthereformanyyears,sheverykindlysaid:“Well,whydon’tyoucomedownandstayatourplace?”Asherinvitationwassopressing,andobservingthatCarriewishedtogo,wepromisedwewouldvisitherthenextSaturdayweek,andstaytillMonday.Mrs.