'Our friend Waterbrook will excuse me if I forbear to explain myself generally, on account of the magnitude of the interests involved.' Mr.Waterbrook was only too happy, as it appeared to me, to have such interests, and such names, even hinted at, across his table.

He assumed an expression of gloomy intelligence (though I am persuaded he knew no more about the discussion than I did), and highly approved of the discretion that had been observed.

Mr.Spiker, after the receipt of such a confidence, naturally desired to favour his friend with a confidence of his own; therefore the foregoing dialogue was succeeded by another, in which it was Mr.Gulpidge's turn to be surprised, and that by another in which the surprise came round to Mr.Spiker's turn again, and so on, turn and turn about.

All this time we, the outsiders, remained oppressed by the tremendous interests involved in the conversation; and our host regarded us with pride, as the victims of a salutary awe and astonishment.

I was very glad indeed to get upstairs to Agnes, and to talk with her in a corner, and to introduce Traddles to her, who was shy, but agreeable, and the same good-natured creature still.