Chapter 8

           November5,Sunday.—CarrieandItroubledaboutthatmereboyLupingettingengagedtobemarriedwithoutconsultingusoranything.Afterdinnerhetoldusallaboutit.Hesaidthelady’snamewasDaisyMutlar,andshewasthenicest,prettiest,andmostaccomplishedgirlheevermet.Helovedherthemomenthesawher,andifhehadtowaitfiftyyearshewouldwait,andheknewshewouldwaitforhim.

           Lupinfurthersaid,withmuchwarmth,thattheworldwasadifferentworldtohimnow—itwasaworldworthlivingin.Helivedwithanobjectnow,andthatwastomakeDaisyMutlar—DaisyPooter,andhewouldguaranteeshewouldnotdisgracethefamilyofthePooters.Carriehereburstoutcrying,andthrewherarmsroundhisneck,andindoingso,upsettheglassofportheheldinhishandalloverhisnewlighttrousers.

           IsaidIhadnodoubtweshouldlikeMissMutlarwhenwesawher,butCarriesaidshelovedheralready.Ithoughtthisratherpremature,butheldmytongue.DaisyMutlarwasthesoletopicofconversationfortheremainderoftheday.IaskedLupinwhoherpeoplewere,andhereplied:“Oh,youknowMutlar,WilliamsandWatts.”Ididnotknow,butrefrainedfromaskinganyfurtherquestionsatpresent,forfearofirritatingLupin.

           November6.—Lupinwentwithmetotheoffice,andhadalongconversationwithMr.Perkupp,ourprincipal,theresultofwhichwasthatheacceptedaclerkshipinthefirmofJobCleanandsandCo.,StockandShareBrokers.