the diary of a nobody-第15节

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rter…past　twelve；　and；　for　the　first　time　in　our　married　life；　we　missed　welcoming　in　the　New　Year。　　Lupin　got　home　at　a　quarter…　past　two；　having　got　lost　in　the　fog　…　so　he　said。



CHAPTER　XIV。



Begin　the　year　with　an　unexpected　promotion　at　the　office。　　I　make　two　good　jokes。　　I　get　an　enormous　rise　in　my　salary。　　Lupin　speculates　successfully　and　starts　a　pony…trap。　　Have　to　speak　to　Sarah。　　Extraordinary　conduct　of　Gowing's。


January　1。　…　I　had　intended　concluding　my　diary　last　week；　but　a　most　important　event　has　happened；　so　I　shall　continue　for　a　little　while　longer　on　the　fly…leaves　attached　to　the　end　of　my　last　year's　diary。　　It　had　just　struck　half…past　one；　and　I　was　on　the　point　of　leaving　the　office　to　have　my　dinner；　when　I　received　a　message　that　Mr。　Perkupp　desired　to　see　me　at　once。　　I　must　confess　that　my　heart　commenced　to　beat　and　I　had　most　serious　misgivings。

Mr。　Perkupp　was　in　his　room　writing；　and　he　said：　　〃Take　a　seat；　Mr。　Pooter；　I　shall　not　be　moment。〃

I　replied：　　〃No；　thank　you；　sir；　I'll　stand。〃

I　watched　the　clock　on　the　mantelpiece；　and　I　was　waiting　quite　twenty　minutes；　but　it　seemed　hours。　　Mr。　Perkupp　at　last　got　up　himself。

I　said：　　〃I　hope　there　is　nothing　wrong；　sir？〃

He　replied：　　〃Oh　dear；　no！　quite　the　reverse；　I　hope。〃　　What　a　weight　off　my　mind！　　My　breath　seemed　to　come　back　again　in　an　instant。

Mr。　Perkupp　said：　　〃Mr。　Buckling　is　going　to　retire；　and　there　will　be　some　slight　changes　in　the　office。　　You　have　been　with　us　nearly　twenty…one　years；　and；　in　consequence　of　your　conduct　during　that　period；　we　intend　making　a　special　promotion　in　your　favour。　　We　have　not　quite　decided　how　you　will　be　placed；　but　in　any　case　there　will　be　a　considerable　increase　in　your　salary；　which；　it　is　quite　unnecessary　for　me　to　say；　you　fully　deserve。　　I　have　an　appointment　at　two；　but　you　shall　hear　more　to…morrow。〃

He　then　left　the　room　quickly；　and　I　was　not　even　allowed　time　or　thought　to　express　a　single　word　of　grateful　thanks　to　him。　　I　need　not　say　how　dear　Carrie　received　this　joyful　news。　　With　perfect　simplicity　she　said：　　〃At　last　we　shall　be　able　to　have　a　chimney…　glass　for　the　back　drawing…room；　which　we　always　wanted。〃　　I　added：　〃Yes；　and　at　last　you　shall　have　that　little　costume　which　you　saw　at　Peter　Robinson's　so　cheap。〃

January　2。　…　I　was　in　a　great　state　of　suspense　all　day　at　the　office。　　I　did　not　like　to　worry　Mr。　Perkupp；　but　as　he　did　not　send　for　me；　and　mentioned　yesterday　that　he　would　see　me　again　to…　day；　I　thought　it　better；　perhaps；　to　go　to　him。　　I　knocked　at　his　door；　and　on　entering；　Mr。　Perkupp　said：　　〃Oh！　it's　you；　Mr。　Pooter；　do　you　want　to　see　me？〃　　I　said：　　〃No；　sir；　I　thought　you　wanted　to　see　me！〃　　〃Oh！〃　he　replied；　〃I　remember。　　Well；　I　am　very　busy　to…day；　I　will　see　you　to…morrow。〃

January　3。　…　Still　in　a　state　of　anxiety　and　excitement；　which　was　not　alleviated　by　ascertaining　that　Mr。　Perkupp　sent　word　he　should　not　be　at　the　office　to…day。　　In　the　evening；　Lupin；　who　was　busily　engaged　with　a　paper；　said　suddenly　to　me：　　〃Do　you　know　anything　about　CHALK　PITS；　Guv。？〃　　I　said：　　〃No；　my　boy；　not　that　I'm　aware　of。〃　　Lupin　said：　　〃Well；　I　give　you　the　tip；　CHALK　PITS　are　as　safe　as　Consols；　and　pay　six　per　cent。　at　par。〃　　I　said　a　rather　neat　thing；　viz。：　　〃They　may　be　six　per　cent。　at　PAR；　but　your　PA　has　no　money　to　invest。〃　　Carrie　and　I　both　roared　with　laughter。　Lupin　did　not　take　the　slightest　notice　of　the　joke；　although　I　purposely　repeated　it　for　him；　but　continued：　　〃I　give　you　the　tip；　that's　all　…　CHALK　PITS！〃　　I　said　another　funny　thing：　　〃Mind　you　don't　fall　into　them！〃　　Lupin　put　on　a　supercilious　smile；　and　said：　　〃Bravo！　　Joe　Miller。〃

January　4。　…　Mr。　Perkupp　sent　for　me　and　told　me　that　my　position　would　be　that　of　one　of　the　senior　clerks。　　I　was　more　than　overjoyed。　　Mr。　Perkupp　added；　he　would　let　me　know　to…morrow　what　the　salary　would　be。　　This　means　another　day's　anxiety；　I　don't　mind；　for　it　is　anxiety　of　the　right　sort。　　That　reminded　me　that　I　had　forgotten　to　speak　to　Lupin　about　the　letter　I　received　from　Mr。　Mutlar；　senr。　　I　broached　the　subject　to　Lupin　in　the　evening；　having　first　consulted　Carrie。　　Lupin　was　riveted　to　the　FINANCIAL　NEWS；　as　if　he　had　been　a　born　capitalist；　and　I　said：　　〃Pardon　me　a　moment；　Lupin；　how　is　it　you　have　not　been　to　the　Mutlars'　any　day　this　week？〃

Lupin　answered：　　〃I　told　you！　　I　cannot　stand　old　Mutlar。〃

I　said：　　〃Mr。　Mutlar　writes　to　me　to　say　pretty　plainly　that　he　cannot　stand　you！〃

Lupin　said：　　〃Well；　I　like　his　cheek　in　writing　to　YOU。　　I'll　find　out　if　his　father　is　still　alive；　and　I　will　write　HIM　a　note　complaining　of　HIS　son；　and　I'll　state　pretty　clearly　that　his　son　is　a　blithering　idiot！〃

I　said：　　〃Lupin；　please　moderate　your　expressions　in　the　presence　of　your　mother。〃

Lupin　said：　　〃I'm　very　sorry；　but　there　is　no　other　expression　one　can　apply　to　him。　　However；　I'm　determined　not　to　enter　his　place　again。〃

I　said：　　〃You　know；　Lupin；　he　has　forbidden　you　the　house。〃

Lupin　replied：　　〃Well；　we　won't　split　straws　…　it's　all　the　same。　Daisy　is　a　trump；　and　will　wait　for　me　ten　years；　if　necessary。〃

January　5。　…　I　can　scarcely　write　the　news。　　Mr。　Perkupp　told　me　my　salary　would　be　raised　100　pounds！　　I　stood　gaping　for　a　moment　unable　to　realise　it。　　I　annually　get　10　pounds　rise；　and　I　thought　it　might　be　15　pounds　or　even　20　pounds；　but　100　pounds　surpasses　all　belief。　　Carrie　and　I　both　rejoiced　over　our　good　fortune。　Lupin　came　home　in　the　evening　in　the　utmost　good　spirits。　　I　sent　Sarah　quietly　round　to　the　grocer's　for　a　bottle　of　champagne；　the　same　as　we　had　before；　〃Jackson　Freres。〃　　It　was　opened　at　supper；　and　I　said　to　Lupin：　　〃This　is　to　celebrate　some　good　news　I　have　received　to…day。〃　　Lupin　replied：　　〃Hooray；　Guv。！　　And　I　have　some　good　news；　also；　a　double　event；　eh？〃　　I　said：　　〃My　boy；　as　a　result　of　twenty…one　years'　industry　and　strict　attention　to　the　interests　of　my　superiors　in　office；　I　have　been　rewarded　with　promotion　and　a　rise　in　salary　of　100　pounds。〃

Lupin　gave　three　cheers；　and　we　rapped　the　table　furiously；　which　brought　in　Sarah　to　see　what　the　matter　was。　　Lupin　ordered　us　to　〃fill　up〃　again；　and　addressing　us　upstanding；　said：　　〃Having　been　in　the　firm　of　Job　Cleanands；　stock　and　share…brokers；　a　few　weeks；　and　not　having　paid　particular　attention　to　the　interests　of　my　superiors　in　office；　my　Guv'nor；　as　a　reward　to　me；　allotted　me　5　pounds　worth　of　shares　in　a　really　good　thing。　　The　result　is；　to…　day　I　have　made　200　pounds。〃　　I　said：　　〃Lupin；　you　are　joking。〃　〃No；　Guv。；　it's　the　good　old　truth；　Job　Cleanands　PUT　ME　ON　TO　CHLORATES。〃

January　21。　…　I　am　very　much　concerned　at　Lupin　having　started　a　pony…trap。　　I　said：　　〃Lupin；　are　you　justified　in　this　outrageous　extravagance？〃　　Lupin　replied：　　〃Well；　one　must　get　to　the　City　somehow。　　I've　only　hired　it；　and　can　give　it　up　any　time　I　like。〃　I　repeated　my　question：　　〃Are　you　justified　in　this　extravagance？〃　He　replied：　　〃Look　here；　Guv。；　excuse　me　saying　so；　but　you're　a　bit　out　of　date。　　It　does　not　pay　nowadays；　fiddling　about　over　small　things。　　I　don't　mean　anything　personal；　Guv'nor。　　My　boss　says　if　I　take　his　tip；　and　stick　to　big　things；　I　can　make　big　money！〃　　I　said　I　thought　the　very　idea　of　speculation　most　horrifying。　　Lupin　said　〃It　is　not　speculation；　it's　a　dead　cert。〃　I　advised　him；　at　all　events；　not　to　continue　the　pony　and　cart；　but　he　replied：　　〃I　made　200　pounds　in　one　day；　now　suppose　I　only　make　200　pounds　in　a　month；　or　put　it　at　100　pounds　a　month；　which　is　ridiculously　low　…　why；　that　is　1；250　pounds　a　year。　　What's　a　few　pounds　a　week　for　a　trap？〃

I　did　not　pursue　the　subject　further；　beyond　saying　that　I　should　feel　glad　when　the　autumn　came；　and　Lupin　would　be　of　age　and　responsible　for　his　own　debts。　　He　answered：　　〃My　dear　Guv。；　I　promise　you　faithfully　that　I　will　never　speculate　with　what　I　have　not　got。　　I　shall　only　go　on　Job　Cleanands'　tips；　and　as　he　is　in　the　'know'　it　is　pretty　safe　sailing。〃　　I　felt　somewhat　relieved。　Gowing　called　in　the　evening　and；　to　my　surprise；　informed　me　that；　as　he　had　made　10　pounds　by　one　of　Lupin's　tips；　he　intended　asking　us　and　the　Cummings　round　next　Saturday。　　Carrie　and　I　said　we　should　be　delighted。

January　22。　…　I　don't　generally　lose　my　temper　with　servants；　but　I　had　to　speak　to　Sarah　rather　sharply　about　a　careless　habit　she　has　recently　contracted　of　shaking　the　table…cloth；　after　removing　the　breakfast　things；　in　a　manner　which　causes　all　the　crumbs　to　fall　on　the　carpet；　eventually　to　be　trodden　in。　　Sarah　answered　very　rudely：　　〃Oh；　you　are　always　complaining。〃　　I　replied：　　〃Indeed；　I　am　not。　　I　spoke　to　you　last　week　about　walking　all　over　the　drawing…room　carpet　with　a　piece　of　yellow　soap　on　the　heel　of　your　boot。〃　　She　said：　　〃And　you're　always　grumbling　about　your　breakfast。〃　　I　said：　　〃No；　I　am　not；　but　I　feel　perfectly　justified　in　complaining　that　I　never　can　get　a　hard…boiled　egg。　　The　moment　I　crack　the　shell　it　spurts　all　over　the　plate；　and　I　have　spoken　to　you　at　least　fifty　times　about　it。〃　　She　began　to　cry　and　make　a　scene；　but　fortunately　my　'bus　came　by；　so　I　had　a　good　excuse　for　leaving　her。　　Gowing　left　a　message　in　the