example." I said: "Mr. Perkupp, may I go home? I cannot work any
more to-day."

My good master shook my hand warmly as he nodded his head. It was
as much as I could do to prevent myself from crying in the 'bus; in

fact, I should have done so, had my thoughts not been interrupted
by Lupin, who was having a quarrel with a fat man in the 'bus, whom

he accused of taking up too much room.
In the evening Carrie sent round for dear old friend Cummings and

his wife, and also to Gowing. We all sat round the fire, and in a
bottle of "Jackson Freres," which Sarah fetched from the grocer's,

drank Lupin's health. I lay awake for hours, thinking of the
future. My boy in the same office as myself - we can go down

together by the 'bus, come home together, and who knows but in the
course of time he may take great interest in our little home. That

he may help me to put a nail in here or a nail in there, or help
his dear mother to hang a picture. In the summer he may help us in

our little garden with the flowers, and assist us to paint the
stands and pots. (By-the-by, I must get in some more enamel

paint.) All this I thought over and over again, and a thousand
happy thoughts beside. I heard the clock strike four, and soon

after fell asleep, only to dream of three happy people - Lupin,
dear Carrie, and myself.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Trouble with a stylographic pen. We go to a Volunteer Ball, where

I am let in for an expensive supper. Grossly insulted by a cabman.
An odd invitation to Southend.

April 8. - No events of any importance, except that Gowing strongly
recommended a new patent stylographic pen, which cost me nine-and-

sixpence, and which was simply nine-and-sixpence thrown in the mud.
It has caused me constantannoyance and irritability of temper.

The ink oozes out of the top, making a mess on my hands, and once
at the office when I was knocking the palm of my hand on the desk

to jerk the ink down, Mr. Perkupp, who had just entered, called
out: "Stop that knocking! I suppose that is you, Mr. Pitt?" That

young monkey, Pitt, took a malicious glee in responding quite
loudly: "No, sir; I beg pardon, it is Mr. Pooter with his pen; it

has been going on all the morning." To make matters worse, I saw
Lupin laughing behind his desk. I thought it wiser to say nothing.

I took the pen back to the shop and asked them if they would take
it back, as it did not act. I did not expect the full price

returned, but was willing to take half. The man said he could not
do that - buying and selling were two different things. Lupin's

conduct during the period he has been in Mr. Perkupp's office has
been most exemplary. My only fear is, it is too good to last.

April 9. - Gowing called, bringing with him an invitation for
Carrie and myself to a ball given by the East Acton Rifle Brigade,

which he thought would be a swell affair, as the member for East
Acton (Sir William Grime) had promised his patronage. We accepted

of his kindness, and he stayed to supper, an occasion I thought
suitable for trying a bottle of the sparkling Algera that Mr. James

(of Sutton) had sent as a present. Gowing sipped the wine,
observing that he had never tasted it before, and further remarked

that his policy was to stick to more recognised brands. I told him
it was a present from a dear friend, and one mustn't look a gift-

horse in the mouth. Gowing facetiously replied: "And he didn't
like putting it in the mouth either."

I thought the remarks were rude without being funny, but on tasting
it myself, came to the conclusion there was some justification for

them. The sparkling Algera is very like cider, only more sour. I
suggested that perhaps the thunder had turned it a bit acid. He

merely replied: "Oh! I don't think so." We had a very pleasant
game of cards, though I lost four shillings and Carrie lost one,

and Gowing said he had lost about sixpence: how he could have
lost, considering that Carrie and I were the only other players,

remains a mystery.
April 14, Sunday. - Owing, I presume, to the unsettled weather, I

awoke with a feeling that my skin was drawn over my face as tight
as a drum. Walking round the garden with Mr. and Mrs. Treane,

members of our congregation who had walked back with us, I was much
annoyed to find a large newspaper full of bones on the gravel-path,

evidently thrown over by those young Griffin boys next door; who,
whenever we have friends, climb up the empty steps inside their

conservatory, tap at the windows, making faces, whistling, and
imitating birds.

April 15. - Burnt my tongue most awfully with the Worcester sauce,
through that stupid girl Sarah shaking the bottle violently before

putting it on the table.
April 16. - The night of the East Acton Volunteer Ball. On my

advice, Carrie put on the same dress that she looked so beautiful
in at the Mansion House, for it had occurred to me, being a

military ball, that Mr. Perkupp, who, I believe, is an officer in
the Honorary Artillery Company, would in all probability be

present. Lupin, in his usual incomprehensible language, remarked
that he had heard it was a "bounders' ball." I didn't ask him what

he meant though I didn't understand. Where he gets these
expressions from I don't know; he certainly doesn't learn them at

home.
The invitation was for half-past eight, so I concluded if we

arrived an hour later we should be in good time, without being
"unfashionable," as Mrs. James says. It was very difficult to find

- the cabman having to get down several times to inquire at
different public-houses where the Drill Hall was. I wonder at

people living in such out-of-the-way places. No one seemed to know
it. However, after going up and down a good many badly-lighted

streets we arrived at our destination. I had no idea it was so far
from Holloway. I gave the cabman five shillings, who only

grumbled, saying it was dirt cheap at half-a-sovereign, and was
impertinent enough to advise me the next time I went to a ball to

take a 'bus.
Captain Welcut received us, saying we were rather late, but that it

was better late than never. He seemed a very good-looking
gentleman though, as Carrie remarked, "rather short for an

officer." He begged to be excused for leaving us, as he was
engaged for a dance, and hoped we should make ourselves at home.

Carrie took my arm and we walked round the rooms two or three times
and watched the people dancing. I couldn't find a single person I

knew, but attributed it to most of them being in uniform. As we
were entering the supper-room I received a slap on the shoulder,

followed by a welcome shake of the hand. I said: "Mr. Padge, I
believe;" he replied, "That's right."

I gave Carrie a chair, and seated by her was a lady who made
herself at home with Carrie at once.

There was a very liberalrepast on the tables, plenty of champagne,
claret, etc., and, in fact, everything seemed to be done regardless

of expense. Mr. Padge is a man that, I admit, I have no particular
liking for, but I felt so glad to come across someone I knew, that

I asked him to sit at our table, and I must say that for a short
fat man he looked well in uniform, although I think his tunic was

rather baggy in the back. It was the only supper-room that I have
been in that was not over-crowded; in fact we were the only people

there, everybody being so busy dancing.
I assisted Carrie and her newly-formed acquaintance, who said her

name was Lupkin, to some champagne; also myself, and handed the
bottle to Mr. Padge to do likewise, saying: "You must look after

yourself." He replied: "That's right," and poured out half a