Chapter 19

           April27.—Keptalittlelaterthanusualattheoffice,andasIwashurryingalongamanstoppedme,saying:“Hulloh!That’safaceIknow.”Irepliedpolitely:“Verylikely;lotsofpeopleknowme,althoughIMaynotknowthem.”Hereplied:“Butyouknowme—TeddyFinsworth.”Soitwas.Hewasatthesameschoolwithme.Ihadnotseenhimforyearsandyears.NowonderIdidnotknowhim!AtschoolhewasatleastaheadtallerthanIwas;nowIamatleastaheadtallerthanheis,andhehasathickbeard,almostgrey.Heinsistedonmyhavingaglassofwine(athingIneverdo),andtoldmehelivedatMiddlesboro’,wherehewasDeputyTownClerk,apositionwhichwasashighastheTownClerkofLondon—infact,higher.HeaddedthathewasstayingforafewdaysinLondon,withhisuncle,Mr.EdgarPaulFinsworth(ofFinsworthandPultwell).Hesaidhewassurehisunclewouldbeonlytoopleasedtoseeme,andhehadanicehouse,WatneyLodge,onlyafewminutes’walkfromMuswellHillStation.Igavehimouraddress,andweparted.

           Intheevening,tomysurprise,hecalledwithaveryniceletterfromMr.Finsworth,sayingifwe(includingCarrie)woulddinewiththemtomorrow(Sunday),attwoo’clock,hewouldbedelighted.Carriedidnotliketogo;butTeddyFinsworthpressedussomuchweconsented.CarriesentSarahroundtothebutcher’sandcountermandedourhalf-legofmutton,whichwehadorderedfortomorrow.

           April28,Sunday.