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palm of his right。 “If you would excuse my taking another glass of
wine； miss； I think it might assist me in getting on； without a
continual choke that cannot fail to be mutually unpleasant。”
He did so； and came back again。 I took the opportunity of
moving well behind my table。
“You wouldn’t allow me to offer you one； would you； miss？”
said Mr Guppy； apparently refreshed。
“Not any；” said I。
“Not half a glass？” said Mr Guppy； “quarter？ No！ Then to
proceed。 My present salary； Miss Summerson； at Kenge and
Carboy’s； is two pound a…week。 When I first had the happiness of
looking upon you； it was one…fifteen； and had stood at that figure
for a lengthened period。 A rise of five has since taken place； and a
further rise of five is guaranteed at the expiration of a term not
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exceeding twelve months from the present date。 My mother has a
little property； which takes the form of a small life annuity； upon
which she lives in an independent though unassuming manner； in
the Old Street Road。 She is eminently calculated for a mother…in…
law。 She never interferes； is all for peace； and her disposition easy。
She has her failings—as who has not？—but I never knew her do it
when company was present； at which time you may freely trust
her with wines； spirits； or malt liquors。 My own abode is lodgings
at Penton Place； Pentonville。 It is lowly； but airy； open at the back；
and considered one of the ’ealthiest outlets。 Miss Summerson！ In
the mildest language； I adore you。 Would you be so kind as to
allow me （as I may say） to file a declaration—to make an offer！”
Mr Guppy went down on his knees。 I was well behind my table；
and not much frightened。 I said； “Get up from that ridiculous
position immediately； sir； or you will oblige me to break my
implied promise and ring the bell！”
“Hear me out； miss！” said Mr Guppy； folding his hands。
“I cannot consent to hear another word； sir；” I returned；
“unless you get up from the carpet directly； and go and sit down at
the table； as you ought to do if you have any sense at all。”
He looked piteously； but slowly rose and did so。
“Yet what a mockery it is； miss；” he said； with his hand upon his
heart； and shaking his head at me in a melancholy manner over
the tray； “to be stationed behind food at such a moment。 The soul
recoils from food at such a moment； miss。”
“I beg you to conclude；” said I； “you have asked me to hear you
out； and I beg you to conclude。”
“I will； miss；” said Mr Guppy。 “As I love and honour； so likewise
I obey。 Would that I could make Thee the subject of that vow；
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before the shrine！”
“That is quite impossible；” said I； “and entirely out of the
question。”
“I am aware；” said Mr Guppy； leaning forward over the tray；
and regarding me； as I again strangely felt； though my eyes were
not directed to him； with his late intent look； “I am aware that in a
worldly point of view； according to all appearances； my offer is a
poor one。 But； Miss Summerson！ Angel！—No； don’t ring—I have
been brought up in a sharp school； and am accustomed to a
variety of general practice。 Though a young man； I have ferreted
out evidence； got up cases； and seen lots of life。 Blest with your
hand； what means might I not find of advancing your interests；
and pushing your fortunes！ What might I not get to know； nearly
concerning you？ I know nothing now； certainly； but what might I
not； if I had your confidence； and you set me on？”
I told him that he addressed my interest； or what he supposed
to be my interest； quite as unsuccessfully as he addressed my
inclination； and he would now understand that I requested him； if
he pleased； to go away immediately。
“Cruel miss；” said Mr Guppy； “hear but another word！ I think
you must have seen that I was struck with those charms； on the
day when I waited at the Whytorseller。 I think you must have
remarked that I could not forbear a tribute to those charms when I
put up the steps of the ’ackney coach。 It was a feeble tribute to
Thee； but it was well meant。 Thy image has ever since been fixed
in my breast。 I have walked up and down； of an evening； opposite
Jellyby’s house； only to look upon the bricks that once contained
Thee。 This out of today； quite an unnecessary out so far as the
attendance； which was its pretended object； went； was planned by
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me alone for Thee alone。 If I speak of interest； it is only to
recommend myself and my respectful wretchedness。 Love was
before it； and is before it。”
“I should be pained； Mr Guppy；” said I； rising and putting my
hand upon the bell…rope； “to do you or any one who was sincere；
the injustice of slighting any honest feeling； however disagreeably
expressed。 If you have really meant to give me a proof of your good
opinion； though ill…timed and misplaced； I feel that I ought to
thank you。 I have very little reason to be proud； and I am not
proud； I hope；” I think I added； without very well knowing what I
said； “that you will now go away as if you had never been so
exceedingly foolish； and attend to Messrs。 Kenge and Carboy’s
business。”
“Half a minute； miss！” cried Mr Guppy； checking me as I was
about to ring。 “This has been without prejudice？”
“I will never mention it；” said I； “unless you should give me
future occasion to do so。”
“A quarter of a minute； miss！ In case you should think better—
at any time； however distant； that’s no consequence； for my
feelings can never alter—of anything I have said； particularly what
might I not do—Mr William Guppy； eighty…seven； Penton Place；
or； if removed； or dead （of blighted hopes or anything of that sort）；
care of Mrs Guppy； three hundred and two； Old Street Road； will
be sufficient。”
I rang the bell； the servant came； and Mr Guppy； laying his
written card upon the table； and making a dejected bow； departed。
Raising my eyes as he went out； I once more saw him looking at
me after he had passed the door。
I sat there for another hour or more； finishing my books and
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payments； and getting through plenty of business。 Then； I
arranged my desk； and put everything away； and was so composed
and cheerful that I thought I had quite dismissed this unexpected