HerbertandIwentonfrombadtoworse, inthewayofincreasingourdebts, lookingintoouraffairs, leavingMargins, andthelikeexemplarytransactions; andTimewenton, whetherorno, ashehasawayofdoing; andIcameofage—infulfilmentofHerbert’sprediction, thatIshoulddosobeforeIknewwhereIwas.

Herberthimselfhadcomeofage, , theeventdidnotmakeaprofoundsensationinBarnard’-and-twentiethbirthday, withacrowdofspeculationsandanticipations, forwehadbothconsideredthatmyguardiancouldhardlyhelpsayingsomethingdefiniteonthatoccasion.

IhadtakencaretohaveitwellunderstoodinLittleBritain, , IreceivedanofficialnotefromWemmick, , andthrewmeintoanunusualflutterwhenIrepairedtomyguardian’soffice, amodelofpunctuality.

IntheouterofficeWemmickofferedmehiscongratulations, , andmotionedmewithanodintomyguardian’, andmyguardianwasstandingbeforehisfireleaninghisbackagainstthechimney-piece, withhishandsunderhiscoat-tails.

“Well, Pip,” saidhe, “, .”

Weshookhands—hewasalwaysaremarkablyshortshaker—andIthankedhim.

“Takeachair, ,” saidmyguardian.

AsIsatdown, andhepreservedhisattitudeandbenthisbrowsathisboots, Ifeltatadisadvantage, , andtheirexpressionwasasiftheyweremakingastupidapoplecticattempttoattendtotheconversation.

“Nowmyyoungfriend,” myguardianbegan, asifIwereawitnessinthebox, “Iamgoingtohaveawordortwowithyou.”

“Ifyouplease, sir.”

“Whatdoyousuppose,” , bendingforwardtolookattheground, andthenthrowinghisheadbacktolookattheceiling, “whatdoyousupposeyouarelivingattherateof?”

“Attherateof, sir?”