Chapter 24

           July10.—TheexcitementandanxietythroughwhichIhavegonethelastfewdayshavebeenalmostenoughtoturnmyhairgrey.Itisallbutsettled.To-morrowthediewillbecast.IhavewrittenalonglettertoLupin—feelingitmydutytodoso—regardinghisattentiontoMrs.Posh,fortheydroveuptoourhouseagainlastnight.

           July11.—IfindmyeyesfillingwithtearsasIpenthenoteofmyinterviewthismorningwithMr.Perkupp.Addressingme,hesaid:“Myfaithfulservant,Iwillnotdwellontheimportantserviceyouhavedoneourfirm.Youcanneverbesufficientlythanked.Letuschangethesubject.Doyoulikeyourhouse,andareyouhappywhereyouare?”

           Ireplied:“Yes,sir;IlovemyhouseandIlovetheneighbourhood,andcouldnotbeartoleaveit.”

           Mr.Perkupp,tomysurprise,said:“Mr.Pooter,Iwillpurchasethefreeholdofthathouse,andpresentittothemosthonestandmostworthymanithaseverbeenmylottomeet.”

           Heshookmyhand,andsaidhehopedmywifeandIwouldbesparedmanyyearstoenjoyit.Myheartwastoofulltothankhim;and,seeingmyembarrassment,thegoodfellowsaid:“Youneedsaynothing,Mr.Pooter,”andlefttheoffice.

           IsenttelegramstoCarrie,Gowing,andCummings(athingIhaveneverdonebefore),andaskedthetwolattertocomeroundtosupper.

           OnarrivinghomeIfoundCarriecryingwithjoy,andIsentSarahroundtothegrocer’stogettwobottlesof“JacksonFrères