November 3.—­Good news at last.  Mr. Perkupp has got an appointment for Lupin, and he is to go and see about it on Monday.  Oh, how my mind is relieved!  I went to Lupin’s room to take the good news to him, but he was in bed, very seedy, so I resolved to keep it over till the evening.

He said he had last night been elected a member of an Amateur Dramatic Club, called the “Holloway Comedians”; and, though it was a pleasant evening, he had sat in a draught, and got neuralgia in the head.  He declined to have any breakfast, so I left him.  In the evening I had up a special bottle of port, and, Lupin being in for a wonder, we filled our glasses, and I said:  “Lupin my boy, I have some good and unexpected news for you.  Mr. Perkupp has procured you an appointment!” Lupin said:  “Good biz!” and we drained our glasses.

Lupin then said:  “Fill up the glasses again, for I have some good and unexpected news for you.”

I had some slight misgivings, and so evidently had Carrie, for she said:  “I hope we shall think it good news.”

Lupin said:  “Oh, it’s all right!  I’m engaged to be married!”

CHAPTER VIII

Daisy Mutlar sole topic of conversation.  Lupin’s new berth.  Fireworks at the Cummings’.  The “Holloway Comedians.”  Sarah quarrels with the charwoman.  Lupin’s uncalled-for interference.  Am introduced to Daisy Mutlar.  We decide to give a party in her honour.

November 5, Sunday.—­Carrie and I troubled about that mere boy Lupin getting engaged to be married without consulting us or anything.  After dinner he told us all about it.  He said the lady’s name was Daisy Mutlar, and she was the nicest, prettiest, and most accomplished girl he ever met.  He loved her the moment he saw her, and if he had to wait fifty years he would wait, and he knew she would wait for him.

Lupin further said, with much warmth, that the world was a different world to him now,—­it was a world worth living in.  He lived with an object now, and that was to make Daisy Mutlar—­Daisy Pooter, and he would guarantee she would not disgrace the family of the Pooters.  Carrie here burst out crying, and threw her arms round his neck, and in doing so, upset the glass of port he held in his hand all over his new light trousers.

I said I had no doubt we should like Miss Mutlar when we saw her, but Carrie said she loved her already.  I thought this rather premature, but held my tongue.  Daisy Mutlar was the sole topic of conversation for the remainder of the day.  I asked Lupin who her people were, and he replied:  “Oh, you know Mutlar, Williams and Watts.”  I did not know, but refrained from asking any further questions at present, for fear of irritating Lupin.

November 6.—­Lupin went with me to the office, and had a long conversation with Mr. Perkupp, our principal, the result of which was that he accepted a clerkship in the firm of Job Cleanands and Co., Stock and Share Brokers.  Lupin told me, privately, it was an advertising firm, and he did not think much of it.  I replied:  “Beggars should not be choosers;” and I will do Lupin the justice to say, he looked rather ashamed of himself.