Щоденник незначної особи

           James(ofSutton)hadsentasapresent.Gowingsippedthewine,observingthathehadnevertasteditbefore,andfurtherremarkedthathispolicywastosticktomorerecognisedbrands.Itoldhimitwasapresentfromadearfriend,andonemustn’tlookagift-horseinthemouth.Gowingfacetiouslyreplied:“Andhedidn’tlikeputtingitinthemoutheither.”

           Ithoughttheremarkswererudewithoutbeingfunny,butontastingitmyself,cametotheconclusiontherewassomejustificationforthem.ThesparklingAlgéraisverylikecider,onlymoresour.Isuggestedthatperhapsthethunderhadturneditabitacid.Hemerelyreplied:“Oh!Idon’tthinkso.”Wehadaverypleasantgameofcards,thoughIlostfourshillingsandCarrielostone,andGowingsaidhehadlostaboutsixpence:howhecouldhavelost,consideringthatCarrieandIweretheonlyotherplayers,remainsamystery.

           April14,Sunday.—Owing,Ipresume,totheunsettledweather,Iawokewithafeelingthatmyskinwasdrawnovermyfaceastightasadrum.WalkingroundthegardenwithMr.andMrs.Treane,membersofourcongregationwhohadwalkedbackwithus,Iwasmuchannoyedtofindalargenewspaperfullofbonesonthegravel-path,evidentlythrownoverbythoseyoungGriffinboysnextdoor;who,wheneverwehavefriends,climbuptheemptystepsinsidetheirconservatory,tapatthewindows,makingfaces,whistling,andimitatingbirds.

           April15.