Great Expectations

"Then, Herbert, estimate; estimate it in round numbers, and put it

down."

"What a fellow of resource you are!" my friend would reply, with

admiration. "Really your business powers are very remarkable."

I thought so too. I established with myself, on these occasions,

the reputation of a first-rate man of business,--prompt, decisive,

energetic, clear, cool-headed. When I had got all my responsibilities

down upon my list, I compared each with the bill, and ticked it off. My

self-approval when I ticked an entry was quite a luxurious sensation.

When I had no more ticks to make, I folded all my bills up uniformly,

docketed each on the back, and tied the whole into a symmetrical

bundle. Then I did the same for Herbert (who modestly said he had not my

administrative genius), and felt that I had brought his affairs into a

focus for him.

My business habits had one other bright feature, which I called "leaving

a Margin." For example; supposing Herbert's debts to be one hundred and

sixty-four pounds four-and-twopence, I would say, "Leave a margin, and

put them down at two hundred." Or, supposing my own to be four times as

much, I would leave a margin, and put them down at seven hundred. I had

the highest opinion of the wisdom of this same Margin, but I am bound

to acknowledge that on looking back, I deem it to have been an expensive

device. For, we always ran into new debt immediately, to the full extent

of the margin, and sometimes, in the sense of freedom and solvency it

imparted, got pretty far on into another margin.

But there was a calm, a rest, a virtuous hush, consequent on these

examinations of our affairs that gave me, for the time, an admirable

opinion of myself. Soothed by my exertions, my method, and Herbert's

compliments, I would sit with his symmetrical bundle and my own on the

table before me among the stationary, and feel like a Bank of some sort,

rather than a private individual.

We shut our outer door on these solemn occasions, in order that we might

not be interrupted. I had fallen into my serene state one evening, when

we heard a letter dropped through the slit in the said door, and fall on

the ground. "It's for you, Handel," said Herbert, going out and coming

back with it, "and I hope there is nothing the matter." This was in

allusion to its heavy black seal and border.

The letter was signed Trabb & Co., and its contents were simply, that

I was an honored sir, and that they begged to inform me that Mrs. J.

Gargery had departed this life on Monday last at twenty minutes past six

in the evening, and that my attendance was requested at the interment on

Monday next at three o'clock in the afternoon.