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           Itappearshewastryingtoshuthisbedroomdoor,whichissituatedjustatthetopofthestaircase,andunknowntohimapieceofcorkthedoghadbeenplayingwithhadgotbetweenthedoor,andpreventeditshutting;andinpullingthedoorhard,togiveitanextraslam,thehandlecameoffinhishands,andhefellbackwardsdownstairs.

           Onhearingthis,Lupinsuddenlyjumpedupfromthecouchandrushedoutoftheroomsideways.Cummingslookedveryindignant,andremarkeditwasverypoorfunamannearlybreakinghisback;andthoughIhadmysuspicionsthatLupinwaslaughing,IassuredCummingsthathehadonlyrunouttoopenthedoortoafriendheexpected.Cummingssaidthiswasthesecondtimehehadbeenlaidup,andwehadneversenttoinquire.IsaidIknewnothingaboutit.Cummingssaid:“ItwasmentionedintheBicycleNews.”

           April22.—IhaveoflatefrequentlynoticedCarrierubbinghernailsagooddealwithaninstrument,andonaskingherwhatshewasdoing,shereplied:“Oh,I’mgoinginformanicuring.It’sallthefashionnow.”Isaid:“IsupposeMrs.Jamesintroducedthatintoyourhead.”Carrielaughinglyreplied:“Yes;buteveryonedoesitnow.”

           IwishMrs.Jameswouldn’tcometothehouse.Whenevershedoesshealwaysintroducessomenew-fandangledrubbishintoCarrie’shead.OneofthesedaysIfeelsureIshalltellhershe’snotwelcome.IamsureitwasMrs.JameswhoputCarrieuptowritingondarkslate-colouredpaperwithwhiteink.Nonsense!

           April23.—ReceivedaletterfromMrs