Page:Diary of a Nobody.djvu/222

THE DIARY OF A NOBODY. off, and took it down to the office for Mr. Perkupp to see, but he again repeated that he could trust me.

Gowing called in the evening, and I was obliged to tell him about Lupin and Mr. Perkupp; and, to my surprise, he was quite inclined to side with Lupin. Carrie joined in, and said she thought I was taking much too melancholy a view of it. Gowing produced a pint sample-bottle of Madeira, which had been given him, which he said would get rid of the blues. I dare say it would have done so if there had been more of it; but as Gowing helped himself to three glasses, it did not leave much for Carrie and me to get rid of the blues with.

15.—A day of great anxiety, for I expected every moment a letter from Mr. Crowbillon. Two letters came in the evening one for me, with "Crowbillon Hall" printed in large gold-and-red letters on the back of the envelope; the other for Lupin, which I felt inclined to open and read, as it had "Gylterson, Sons, and Co. Limited," which was the recommended firm. I trembled as I opened Mr. Crowbillon's letter. I wrote him sixteen pages, closely written; he wrote me less than sixteen lines. 220