He immediately looked at the dish and began to carve.

“What will you take yourself, miss?  You’ll take a morsel of something?”

“No, thank you,” said I.

“Shan’t I give you a piece of anything at all, miss?” said Mr. Guppy, hurriedly drinking off a glass of wine.

“Nothing, thank you,” said I.  “I have only waited to see that you have everything you want.  Is there anything I can order for you?”

“No, I am much obliged to you, miss, I’m sure.  I’ve everything that I can require to make me comfortable—­at least I—­not comfortable—­ I’m never that.”  He drank off two more glasses of wine, one after another.

I thought I had better go.

“I beg your pardon, miss!” said Mr. Guppy, rising when he saw me rise.  “But would you allow me the favour of a minute’s private conversation?”

Not knowing what to say, I sat down again.

“What follows is without prejudice, miss?” said Mr. Guppy, anxiously bringing a chair towards my table.

“I don’t understand what you mean,” said I, wondering.

“It’s one of our law terms, miss.  You won’t make any use of it to my detriment at Kenge and Carboy’s or elsewhere.  If our conversation shouldn’t lead to anything, I am to be as I was and am not to be prejudiced in my situation or worldly prospects.  In short, it’s in total confidence.”

“I am at a loss, sir,” said I, “to imagine what you can have to communicate in total confidence to me, whom you have never seen but once; but I should be very sorry to do you any injury.”

“Thank you, miss.  I’m sure of it—­that’s quite sufficient.”  All this time Mr. Guppy was either planing his forehead with his handkerchief or tightly rubbing the palm of his left hand with the 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 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