"Miss Summerson," said Mr. Guppy, "you will excuse the waywardness of a parent ever mindful of a son's appiness. My mother, though highly exasperating to the feelings, is actuated by maternal dictates."
I could hardly have believed that anybody could in a moment have turned so red or changed so much as Mr. Guppy did when I now put up my veil.
"I asked the favour of seeing you for a few moments here," said I, "in preference to calling at Mr. Kenge's because, remembering what you said on an occasion when you spoke to me in confidence, I feared I might otherwise cause you some embarrassment, Mr. Guppy."
I caused him embarrassment enough as it was, I am sure. I never saw such faltering, such confusion, such amazement and apprehension.
"Miss Summerson," stammered Mr. Guppy, "I--I--beg your pardon, but in our profession--we--we--find it necessary to be explicit. You have referred to an occasion, miss, when I--when I did myself the honour of making a declaration which--"
Something seemed to rise in his throat that he could not possibly swallow. He put his hand there, coughed, made faces, tried again to swallow it, coughed again, made faces again, looked all round the room, and fluttered his papers.

"Miss Summerson," said Mr. Guppy, "you will excuse the waywardness of a parent ever mindful of a son's 'appiness. My mother, though highly exasperating to the feelings, is actuated by maternal dictates."
I now put up my veil. I could hardly have believed that anybody could in a moment have turned so red or changed so much as Mr. Guppy did.
"I asked the favour of seeing you for a few moments here," said I, "in preference to calling at Mr. Kenge's, because I feared I might otherwise cause you some embarrassment, Mr. Guppy."
I caused him embarrassment enough as it was. I never saw such faltering and confusion.
"Miss Summerson," stammered Mr. Guppy, "I - I beg your pardon, but in our profession we - we find it necessary to be explicit. There was an occasion, miss, when I - when I made a declaration which-"
Something seemed to rise in his throat that he could not swallow. He coughed, made faces, looked all round the room, coughed some more, and fluttered his papers.
