Begin the year with an unexpected promotion at the office. I maketwo good jokes. I get an enormous rise in my salary. Lupin speculatessuccessfully and starts a pony-trap. Have to speak to Sarah.

　　Extraordinary conduct of Gowing's.

　　January 1. - I had intended concluding my diary last week; but a mostimportant event has happened, so I shall continue for a little while longeron the fly-leaves attached to the end of my last year's diary. It had juststruck half-past one, and I was on the point of leaving the office to havemy dinner, when I received a message that Mr. Perkupp desired to see meat once. I must confess that my heart commenced to beat and I had mostserious misgivings.

　　Mr. Perkupp was in his room writing, and he said: "Take a seat, Mr.

　　Pooter, I shall not be moment."I replied: "No, thank you, sir; I'll stand."I watched the clock on the mantelpiece, and I was waiting quite twentyminutes; but it seemed hours. Mr. Perkupp at last got up himself.

　　I said: "I hope there is nothing wrong, sir?"He replied: "Oh dear, no! quite the reverse, I hope." What a weightoff my mind! My breath seemed to come back again in an instant.

　　Mr. Perkupp said: "Mr. Buckling is going to retire, and there will besome slight changes in the office. You have been with us nearly twenty-one years, and, in consequence of your conduct during that period, weintend making a special promotion in your favour. We have not quitedecided how you will be placed; but in any case there will be aconsiderable increase in your salary, which, it is quite unnecessary for meto say, you fully deserve. I have an appointment at two; but you shallhear more to-morrow."He then left the room quickly, and I was not even allowed time orthought to express a single word of grateful thanks to him. I need not sayhow dear Carrie received this joyful news. With perfect simplicity she said: "At last we shall be able to have a chimney- glass for the backdrawing-room, which we always wanted." I added: "Yes, and at last youshall have that little costume which you saw at Peter Robinson's so cheap."January 2. - I was in a great state of suspense all day at the office.

　　did not like to worry Mr. Perkupp; but as he did not send for me, andmentioned yesterday that he would see me again to- day, I thought it better,perhaps, to go to him. I knocked at his door, and on entering, Mr.

　　Perkupp said: "Oh! it's you, Mr. Pooter; do you want to see me?" I said:

　　"No, sir, I thought you wanted to see me!" "Oh!" he replied, "Iremember. Well, I am very busy to-day; I will see you to-morrow."January 3. - Still in a state of anxiety and excitement, which was notalleviated by ascertaining that Mr. Perkupp sent word he should not be atthe office to-day. In the evening, Lupin, who was busily engaged with apaper, said suddenly to me: "Do you know anything about CHALKPITS, Guv.?" I said: "No, my boy, not that I'm aware of." Lupin said:

　　"Well, I give you the tip; CHALK PITS are as safe as Consols, and pay sixper cent. at par." I said a rather neat thing, viz.: "They may be six percent. at PAR, but your PA has no money to invest." Carrie and I bothroared with laughter. Lupin did not take the slightest notice of the joke,although I purposely repeated it for him; but continued: "I give you thetip, that's all - CHALK PITS!" I said another funny thing: "Mind youdon't fall into them!" Lupin put on a supercilious smile, and said:

　　"Bravo! Joe Miller."January 4. -Mr. Perkupp sent for me and told me that my positionwould be that of one of the senior clerks. I was more than overjoyed.

　　Mr. Perkupp added, he would let me know to-morrow what the salarywould be. This means another day's anxiety; I don't mind, for it isanxiety of the right sort. That reminded me that I had forgotten to speakto Lupin about the letter I received from Mr. Mutlar, senr. I broached thesubject to Lupin in the evening, having first consulted Carrie. Lupin wasriveted to the FINANCIAL NEWS, as if he had been a born capitalist, andI said: "Pardon me a moment, Lupin, how is it you have not been to theMutlars' any day this week?"Lupin answered: "I told you! I cannot stand old Mutlar." I said: "Mr. Mutlar writes to me to say pretty plainly that he cannotstand you!"Lupin said: "Well, I like his cheek in writing to YOU. I'll find outif his father is still alive, and I will write HIM a note complaining of HISson, and I'll state pretty clearly that his son is a blithering idiot!"I said: "Lupin, please moderate your expressions in the presence ofyour mother."Lupin said: "I'm very sorry, but there is no other expression one canapply to him. However, I'm determined not to enter his place again."I said: "You know, Lupin, he has forbidden you the house."Lupin replied: "Well, we won't split straws - it's all the same. Daisyis a trump, and will wait for me ten years, if necessary."January 5. - I can scarcely write the news. Mr. Perkupp told me mysalary would be raised 100 pounds! I stood gaping for a moment unableto realise it. I annually get 10 pounds rise, and I thought it might be 15pounds or even 20 pounds; but 100 pounds surpasses all belief. Carrieand I both rejoiced over our good fortune. Lupin came home in theevening in the utmost good spirits. I sent Sarah quietly round to thegrocer's for a bottle of champagne, the same as we had before, "JacksonFreres." It was opened at supper, and I said to Lupin: "This is tocelebrate some good news I have received to-day." Lupin replied:

　　"Hooray, Guv.! And I have some good news, also; a double event, eh?"I said: "My boy, as a result of twenty-one years' industry and strictattention to the interests of my superiors in office, I have been rewardedwith promotion and a rise in salary of 100 pounds."Lupin gave three cheers, and we rapped the table furiously, whichbrought in Sarah to see what the matter was. Lupin ordered us to "fillup" again, and addressing us upstanding, said: "Having been in the firmof Job Cleanands, stock and share-brokers, a few weeks, and not havingpaid particular attention to the interests of my superiors in office, myGuv'nor, as a reward to me, allotted me 5 pounds worth of shares in areally good thing. The result is, to- day I have made 200 pounds."said: "Lupin, you are joking." "No, Guv., it's the good old truth; JobCleanands PUT ME ON TO CHLORATES." January 21. - I am very much concerned at Lupin having started apony-trap. I said: "Lupin, are you justified in this outrageousextravagance?" Lupin replied: "Well, one must get to the Citysomehow. I've only hired it, and can give it up any time I like." Irepeated my question: "Are you justifie............