I said he was my dearest friend, the protector of my boyhood, and the companion of my prime.

I said I was delighted to propose his health.

I said I owed him more obligations than I could ever repay, and held him in a higher admiration than I could ever express.

I finished by saying, 'I'll give you Steerforth! God bless him! Hurrah!' We gave him three times three, and another, and a good one to finish with.

I broke my glass in going round the table to shake hands with him, and I said (in two words) 'Steerforth--you'retheguidingstarofmyexistence.' I went on, by finding suddenly that somebody was in the middle of a song.