One of the happiest days of my life.

JULY 10.—The excitement and anxiety through which I have gone the lastfew days have been almost enough to turn my hair grey. It is all butsettled. To-morrow the die will be cast. I have written a long letterto Lupin—feeling it my duty to do so,—regarding his attention to Mrs.Posh, for they drove up to our house again last night.

JULY 11.—I find my eyes filling with tears as I pen the note of myinterview this morning with Mr. Perkupp. Addressing me, he said: “Myfaithful servant, I will not dwell on the important service you have doneour firm. You can never be sufficiently thanked. Let us change thesubject. Do you like your house, and are you happy where you are?”

I replied: “Yes, sir; I love my house and I love the neighbourhood, andcould not bear to leave it.”

Mr. Perkupp, to my surprise, said: “Mr. Pooter, I will purchase thefreehold of that house, and present it to the most honest and most worthyman it has ever been my lot to meet.”

He shook my hand, and said he hoped my wife and I would be spared manyyears to enjoy it. My heart was too full to thank him; and, seeing myembarrassment, the good fellow said: “You need say nothing, Mr. Pooter,”and left the office.

I sent telegrams to Carrie, Gowing, and Cummings (a thing I have neverdone before), and asked the two latter to come round to supper.

On arriving home I found Carrie crying with joy, and I sent Sarah roundto the grocer’s to get two bottles of “Jackson Frères.”

My two dear friends came in the evening, and the last post brought aletter from Lupin in reply to mine. I read it aloud to them all. Itran: “My dear old Guv.,—Keep your hair on. You are on the wrong tackagain. I am engaged to be married to ‘Lillie Girl.’ I did not mentionit last Thursday, as it was not definitely settled. We shall be marriedin August, and amongst our guests we hope to see your old friends Gowingand Cummings. With much love to all, from _The same old Lupin_.”