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Chapter 6
Itwasverywetintheevening,forwhichIwasthankful,asitwasagoodexcuseforgoingtobedearly.Lupinsaidhewouldsitupandreadabit.
August14.—IwasalittleannoyedtofindLupin,insteadofreadinglastnight,hadgonetoacommonsortofentertainment,givenattheAssemblyRooms.Iexpressedmyopinionthatsuchperformanceswereunworthyofrespectablepatronage;buthereplied:“Oh,itwasonly‘foronenightonly.’Ihadafitofthebluescomeon,andthoughtIwouldgotoseePollyPresswell,England’sParticularSpark.”ItoldhimIwasproudtosayIhadneverheardofher.Carriesaid:“Dolettheboyalone.He’squiteoldenoughtotakecareofhimself,andwon’tforgethe’sagentleman.Remember,youwereyoungonceyourself.”Rainedalldayhard,butLupinwouldgoout.
August15.—Clearedupabit,sowealltookthetraintoMargate,andthefirstpersonwemetonthejettywasGowing.Isaid:“Hulloh!IthoughtyouhadgonetoBarmouthwithyourBirminghamfriends?”Hesaid:“Yes,butyoungPeterLawrencewassoill,theypostponedtheirvisit,soIcamedownhere.YouknowtheCummings’areheretoo?”Carriesaid:“Oh,thatwillbedelightful!Wemusthavesomeeveningstogetherandhavegames.”
IintroducedLupin,saying:“Youwillbepleasedtofindwehaveourdearboyathome!”Gowingsaid:“How’sthat?Youdon’tmeantosayhe’slefttheBank?”
Ichangedthesubjectquickly,andtherebyavoidedanyofthoseawkwardquestionswhichGowingalwayshasaknackofasking.
August16.
