Page:Diary of a Nobody.djvu/224

THE DIARY OF A NOBODY. To my amazement, I read that Gylterson and Sons had absolutely engaged Lupin at a salary of £200 a year, with other advantages. I read the letter through three times and thought it must have been for me. But there it was—Lupin Pooter—plain enough. I was silent. Lupin said: "What price Perkupp now? You take my tip, Guv.—'off' with Perkupp and freeze on to Gylterson, the firm of the future! Perkupp's firm? The stagnant dummies have been standing still for years, and now are moving back. I want to go on. In fact I must go off, as I am dining with the Murray Poshs to-night."

In the exuberance of his spirits he hit his hat with his stick, gave a loud war "Whoo-oop," jumped over a chair, and took the liberty of rumpling my hair all over my forehead, and bounced out of the room, giving me no chance of reminding him of his age and the respect which was due to his parent. Gowing and Cummings came in the evening, and positively cheered me up with congratulations respecting Lupin.

Gowing said: "I always said he would get on, and, take my word, he has more in his head than we three put together."

Carrie said: "He is a second Hardfur Huttle." 222