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           Gowingcalledintheeveningand,tomysurprise,informedmethat,ashehadmade£10byoneofLupin’stips,heintendedaskingusandtheCummingsroundnextSaturday.CarrieandIsaidweshouldbedelighted.

           January22.—Idon’tgenerallylosemytemperwithservants;butIhadtospeaktoSarahrathersharplyaboutacarelesshabitshehasrecentlycontractedofshakingthetable-cloth,afterremovingthebreakfastthings,inamannerwhichcausesallthecrumbstofallonthecarpet,eventuallytobetroddenin.Sarahansweredveryrudely:“Oh,youarealwayscomplaining.”Ireplied:“Indeed,Iamnot.Ispoketoyoulastweekaboutwalkingalloverthedrawing-roomcarpetwithapieceofyellowsoapontheheelofyourboot.”Shesaid:“Andyou’realwaysgrumblingaboutyourbreakfast.”Isaid:“No,Iamnot;butIfeelperfectlyjustifiedincomplainingthatInevercangetahard-boiledegg.ThemomentIcracktheshellitspurtsallovertheplate,andIhavespokentoyouatleastfiftytimesaboutit.”Shebegantocryandmakeascene;butfortunatelymy’buscameby,soIhadagoodexcuseforleavingher.Gowingleftamessageintheevening,thatwewerenottoforgetnextSaturday.Carrieamusinglysaid:“Ashehasneveraskedanyfriendsbefore,wearenotlikelytoforgetit.”

           January23.—IaskedLupintotryandchangethehardbrushes,herecentlymademeapresentof,forsomesofterones,asmyhair-dressertellsmeIoughtnottobrushmyhairtoomuchjustnow.

           January24.