Mr. Huttle paused for a moment and the opportunity was afforded for

the ladies to rise. I asked Mr. Franching quietly to excuse me, as



I did not wish to miss the last train, which we very nearly did,

by-the-by, through Carrie having mislaid the little cloth cricket-



cap which she wears when we go out.

It was very late when Carrie and I got home; but on entering the



sitting-room I said: "Carrie, what do you think of Mr. Hardfur

Huttle?" She simply answered: "How like Lupin!" The same idea



occurred to me in the train. The comparison kept me awake half the

night. Mr. Huttle was, of course, an older and more influential



man; but he WAS like Lupin, and it made me think how dangerous

Lupin would be if he were older and more influential. I feel proud



to think Lupin DOES resemble Mr. Huttle in some ways. Lupin, like

Mr. Huttle, has original and sometimes wonderful ideas; but it is



those ideas that are so dangerous. They make men extremely rich or

extremely poor. They make or break men. I always feel people are



happier who live a simple unsophisticated life. I believe I am

happy because I am not ambitious. Somehow I feel that Lupin, since



he has been with Mr. Perkupp, has become content to settle down and

follow the footsteps of his father. This is a comfort.



CHAPTER XXI.

Lupin is discharged. We are in great trouble. Lupin gets engaged



elsewhere at a handsome salary.

May 13. - A terrible misfortune has happened: Lupin is discharged



from Mr. Perkupp's office; and I scarcely know how I am writing my

diary. I was away from office last Sat., the first time I have



been absent through illness for twenty years. I believe I was

poisoned by some lobster. Mr. Perkupp was also absent, as Fate



would have it; and our most valued customer, Mr. Crowbillon, went

to the office in a rage, and withdrew his custom. My boy Lupin not



only had the assurance to receive him, but recommended him the firm

of Gylterson, Sons and Co. Limited. In my own humble judgment, and



though I have to say it against my own son, this seems an act of

treachery.



This morning I receive a letter from Perkupp, informing me that

Lupin's services are no longer required, and an interview with me



is desired at eleven o'clock. I went down to the office with an

aching heart, dreading an interview with Mr. Perkupp, with whom I



have never had a word. I saw nothing of Lupin in the morning. He

had not got up when it was time for me to leave, and Carrie said I



should do no good by disturbing him. My mind wandered so at the

office that I could not do my work properly.



As I expected, I was sent for by Mr. Perkupp, and the following

conversation ensued as nearly as I can remember it.



Mr. Perkupp said: "Good-morning, Mr. Pooter! This is a very

serious business. I am not referring so much to the dismissal of



your son, for I knew we should have to part sooner or later. I am

the head of this old, influential, and much-respected firm; and



when I consider the time has come to revolutionise the business, I

will do it myself."



I could see my good master was somewhat affected, and I said: "I

hope, sir, you do not imagine that I have in any way countenanced



my son's unwarrantable interference?" Mr. Perkupp rose from his

seat and took my hand, and said: "Mr. Pooter, I would as soon



suspect myself as suspect you." I was so agitated that in the

confusion, to show my gratitude I very nearly called him a "grand



old man."

Fortunately I checked myself in time, and said he was a "grand old



master." I was so unaccountable for my actions that I sat down,

leaving him standing. Of course, I at once rose, but Mr. Perkupp



bade me sit down, which I was very pleased to do. Mr. Perkupp,

resuming, said: "You will understand, Mr. Pooter, that the high-



standing nature of our firm will not admit of our bending to

anybody. If Mr. Crowbillon chooses to put his work into other



hands - I may add, less experienced hands - it is not for us to

bend and beg back his custom." "You SHALL not do it, sir," I said



with indignation. "Exactly," replied Mr. Perkupp; "I shall NOT do

it. But I was thinking this, Mr. Pooter. Mr. Crowbillon is our



most valued client, and I will even confess - for I know this will

not go beyond ourselves - that we cannot afford very well to lose



him, especially in these times, which are not of the brightest.

Now, I fancy you can be of service."



I replied: "Mr. Perkupp, I will work day and night to serve you!"

Mr. Perkupp said: "I know you will. Now, what I should like you



to do is this. You yourself might write to Mr. Crowbillon - you

must not, of course, lead him to suppose I know anything about your



doing so - and explain to him that your son was only taken on as a

• invitation [,invi´teiʃən] n.邀请；请帖；吸引 (初中英语单词)


• observation [,ɔbzə´veiʃən] n.观测；注意；意义 (初中英语单词)


• professional [prə´feʃənəl] a.职业的 n.自由职业 (初中英语单词)


• evidently [´evidəntli] ad.明显地 (初中英语单词)


• absolutely [´æbsəlu:tli] ad.绝对地；确实 (初中英语单词)


• columbus [kə´lʌmbəs] n.哥伦布 (初中英语单词)


• argument [´ɑ:gjumənt] n.辩论；争论；论证 (初中英语单词)


• fascinating [´fæsineitiŋ] a.迷人，使神魂颠倒的 (初中英语单词)


• laughter [´lɑ:ftə] n.笑，笑声 (初中英语单词)


• brilliant [´briliənt] a.灿烂的；杰出的 (初中英语单词)


• medium [´mi:diəm] n.中间；平均 a.中等的 (初中英语单词)


• amazing [ə´meiziŋ] a.惊人的；惊奇的 (初中英语单词)


• imperial [im´piəriəl] a.帝国的；庄严的 (初中英语单词)


• hooked [hukt] a.钩状的；上瘾的 (初中英语单词)


• charming [´tʃɑ:miŋ] a.可爱的；极好的 (初中英语单词)


• attendant [ə´tendənt] n.随员 a.伴随的 (初中英语单词)


• insult [in´sʌlt, ´insʌlt] n.&vt.侮辱；损害 (初中英语单词)


• province [´prɔvins] n.省；领域；范围 (初中英语单词)


• comparison [kəm´pærisən] n.比较；对照；比喻 (初中英语单词)


• resemble [ri´zembəl] vt.类似，象 (初中英语单词)


• extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)


• ambitious [æm´biʃəs] a.有雄心的；热望的 (初中英语单词)


• writing [´raitiŋ] n.书写；写作；书法 (初中英语单词)


• absent [´æbsənt, əb´sent] a.不在的 vt.使缺席 (初中英语单词)


• illness [´ilnis] n.生病，不健康，疾病 (初中英语单词)


• customer [´kʌstəmə] n.顾客，买主，主顾 (初中英语单词)


• humble [´hʌmbəl] a.谦卑的 vt.贬抑 (初中英语单词)


• interview [´intəvju:] n.&vt.接见；会见；交谈 (初中英语单词)


• suspect [´sʌspekt, sə´spekt] v.怀疑；觉得 n.嫌疑犯 (初中英语单词)


• gratitude [´grætitju:d] n.感激，感谢 (初中英语单词)


• standing [´stændiŋ] n.持续 a.直立的 (初中英语单词)


• confess [kən´fes] vt.供认；坦白；承认 (初中英语单词)


• influential [,influ´enʃəl] a.有力的，有影响的 (高中英语单词)


• distinguished [di´stiŋgwiʃt] a.卓越的，著名的 (高中英语单词)


• personally [´pə:sənəli] ad.亲自；就个人来说 (高中英语单词)


• exquisite [ik´skwizit] a.精巧的；敏锐的 (高中英语单词)


• concerning [kən´sə:niŋ] prep.关于 (高中英语单词)


• intellectual [,inti´lektʃuəl] n.知识分子 (高中英语单词)


• electrical [i´lektrikəl] a.用电的；与电有关的 (高中英语单词)


• half-way [´hɑ:fwei] ad.半途；几乎 (高中英语单词)


• interpretation [in,tə:pri´teiʃən] n.解释；翻译；表演 (高中英语单词)


• positively [´pɔzətivli] ad.确实；断然；绝对 (高中英语单词)


• duchess [´dʌtʃis] n.公爵夫人；女公爵 (高中英语单词)


• competent [´kɔmpitənt] a.能干的，有资格的 (高中英语单词)


• subsequent [´sʌbsikwənt] a.其次的；其后的 (高中英语单词)


• grocer [´grəusə] n.食品商，杂货商 (高中英语单词)


• fortunately [´fɔ:tʃənətli] ad.幸运地 (高中英语单词)


• misfortune [mis´fɔ:tʃən] n.不幸；灾祸 (高中英语单词)


• withdrew [wið´dru:] withdraw的过去式 (高中英语单词)


• assurance [ə´ʃuərəns] n.保证；自信；信任 (高中英语单词)


• limited [´limitid] a.有限(制)的 (高中英语单词)


• indignation [,indig´neiʃən] n.愤慨；气愤 (高中英语单词)


• client [´klaiənt] n.委托人；顾客 (高中英语单词)


• waiter [´weitə] n.侍者，服务员 (英语四级单词)


• daring [´deəriŋ] a.&n.勇敢(的) (英语四级单词)


• eloquence [´eləkwəns] n.雄辩；口才 (英语四级单词)


• convincing [kən´vinsiŋ] a.有说服力的；有力的 (英语四级单词)


• vulgar [´vʌlgə] a.粗俗的；大众的 (英语四级单词)


• bridge [bridʒ] n.桥(梁)；鼻梁；桥牌 (英语四级单词)


• matron [´meitrən] n.主妇；护士长 (英语四级单词)


• lobster [´lɔbstə] n.龙虾(肉) (英语四级单词)


• experienced [ik´spiəriənst] a.有经验的；熟练的 (英语四级单词)


• champagne [ʃæm´pein] n.香槟酒；微黄色 (英语六级单词)


• orthodox [´ɔ:θədɔks] a.正统的；正统的；习惯的 (英语六级单词)


• suburban [sə´bə:bən] a.郊区的 n.郊区居民 (英语六级单词)


• frivolous [´frivələs] a.轻佻的 (英语六级单词)


• affected [ə´fektid] a.做作的；假装的 (英语六级单词)