Chapter 14

           January1.—Ihadintendedconcludingmydiarylastweek;butamostimportanteventhashappened,soIshallcontinueforalittlewhilelongeronthefly-leavesattachedtotheendofmylastyear’sdiary.Ithadjuststruckhalf-pastone,andIwasonthepointofleavingtheofficetohavemydinner,whenIreceivedamessagethatMr.Perkuppdesiredtoseemeatonce.ImustconfessthatmyheartcommencedtobeatandIhadmostseriousmisgivings.

           Mr.Perkuppwasinhisroomwriting,andhesaid:“Takeaseat,Mr.Pooter,Ishallnotbeamoment.”

           Ireplied:“No,thankyou,sir;I’llstand.”

           Iwatchedtheclockonthemantelpiece,andIwaswaitingquitetwentyminutes;butitseemedhours.Mr.Perkuppatlastgotuphimself.

           Isaid:“Ihopethereisnothingwrong,sir?”

           Hereplied:“Ohdear,no!quitethereverse,Ihope.”Whataweightoffmymind!Mybreathseemedtocomebackagaininaninstant.

           Mr.Perkuppsaid:“Mr.Bucklingisgoingtoretire,andtherewillbesomeslightchangesintheoffice.Youhavebeenwithusnearlytwenty-oneyears,and,inconsequenceofyourconductduringthatperiod,weintendmakingaspecialpromotioninyourfavour.Wehavenotquitedecidedhowyouwillbeplaced;butinanycasetherewillbeaconsiderableincreaseinyoursalary,which,itisquiteunnecessaryformetosay,youfullydeserve.Ihaveanappointmentattwo;butyoushallhearmoretomorrow.”

           Hethenlefttheroomquickly,andIwasnotevenallowedtimeorthoughttoexpressasinglewordofgratefulthankstohim.