Second Period Third Narrative - Chapter II

"Betteredge!" I said, pointing to the well-remembered book on his knee,
"has ROBINSON CRUSOE informed you, this evening, that you might expect
to see Franklin Blake?"

"By the lord Harry, Mr. Franklin!" cried the old man, "that's exactly
what ROBINSON CRUSOE has done!"

He struggled to his feet with my assistance, and stood for a moment,
looking backwards and forwards between ROBINSON CRUSOE and me,
apparently at a loss to discover which of us had surprised him most. The
verdict ended in favour of the book. Holding it open before him in both
hands, he surveyed the wonderful volume with a stare of unutterable
anticipation--as if he expected to see Robinson Crusoe himself walk out
of the pages, and favour us with a personal interview.

"Here's the bit, Mr. Franklin!" he said, as soon as he had recovered
the use of his speech. "As I live by bread, sir, here's the bit I was
reading, the moment before you came in! Page one hundred and fifty-six
as follows:--'I stood like one Thunderstruck, or as if I had seen
an Apparition.' If that isn't as much as to say: 'Expect the sudden
appearance of Mr. Franklin Blake'--there's no meaning in the English
language!" said Betteredge, closing the book with a bang, and getting
one of his hands free at last to take the hand which I offered him.

I had expected him, naturally enough under the circumstances, to
overwhelm me with questions. But no--the hospitable impulse was the
uppermost impulse in the old servant's mind, when a member of the family
appeared (no matter how!) as a visitor at the house.