Щоденник незначної особи

           Heshoutedtorespectablepeoplewhowerewalkingquietlyintheroadtogetoutoftheway;heflickedatthehorseofanoldmanwhowasriding,causingittorear;and,asIhadtoridebackwards,Iwascompelledtofaceagangofroughsinadonkey-cart,whomLupinhadchaffed,andwhoturnedandfollowedusfornearlyamile,bellowing,indulgingincoarsejokesandlaughter,tosaynothingofoccasionallypeltinguswithorange-peel.

           Lupin’sexcuse—thatthePrinceofWaleswouldhavetoputupwiththesamesortofthingifhedrovetotheDerby—wasoflittleconsolationtoeitherCarrieormyself.FrankMutlarcalledintheevening,andLupinwentoutwithhim.

           February11.—FeelingalittleconcernedaboutLupin,ImusteredupcouragetospeaktoMr.Perkuppabouthim.Mr.Perkupphasalwaysbeenmostkindtome,soItoldhimeverything,includingyesterday’sadventure.Mr.Perkuppkindlyreplied:“Thereisnonecessityforyoutobeanxious,Mr.Pooter.Itwouldbeimpossibleforasonofsuchgoodparentstoturnouterroneously.Rememberheisyoung,andwillsoongetolder.Iwishwecouldfindroomforhiminthisfirm.”Theadviceofthisgoodmantakesloadsoffmymind.IntheeveningLupincamein.

           Afterourlittlesupper,hesaid:“Mydearparents,Ihavesomenews,whichIfearwillaffectyouconsiderably.”Ifeltaqualmcomeoverme,andsaidnothing.Lupinthensaid:“ItMaydistressyou—infact,I’msureitwill—butthisafternoonIhavegivenupmyponyandtrapforever.