he

would recommend under the circumstances, “How do you do, Mr.

Stryver? How do you do, sir?” and shook hands. There was a

peculiarity in his manner of shaking hands, always to be seen in

any clerk at Tellson’s who shook hands with a customer when the

House pervaded the air. He shook in a self-abnegating way, as one

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics

who shook for Tellson & Co.

“Can I do anything for you, Mr. Stryver?” asked Mr. Lorry, in

his business character.

“Why, no, thank you; this is a private visit to yourself, Mr.

Lorry; I have come for a private word.”

“Oh indeed!” said Mr. Lorry, bending down his ear, while his

eye strayed to the House afar off.

“I am going,” said Mr. Stryver, leaning his arms confidently on

the desk: whereupon, although it was a large double one, there

appeared to be not half desk enough for him: “I am going to make

an offer of myself in marriage to your agreeable little friend, Miss

Manette, Mr. Lorry.”

“Oh dear me!” cried Mr. Lorry, rubbing his chin, and looking at

his visitor dubiously.

“Oh dear me, sir?” repeated Stryver, drawing back. “Oh dear

you, sir? What may your meaning be, Mr. Lorry?”

“My meaning,” answered the man of business, “is, of course,

friendly and appreciative, and that it does you the greatest credit,

andin short, my meaning is everything you could de