Щоденник незначної особи

           Heseemedaverygood-lookinggentlemanthough,asCarrieremarked,“rathershortforanofficer.”Hebeggedtobeexcusedforleavingus,ashewasengagedforadance,andhopedweshouldmakeourselvesathome.Carrietookmyarmandwewalkedroundtheroomstwoorthreetimesandwatchedthepeopledancing.Icouldn’tfindasinglepersonIknew,butattributedittomostofthembeinginuniform.Aswewereenteringthesupper-roomIreceivedaslapontheshoulder,followedbyawelcomeshakeofthehand.Isaid:“Mr.Padge,Ibelieve;”hereplied,“That’sright.”

           IgaveCarrieachair,andseatedbyherwasaladywhomadeherselfathomewithCarrieatonce.

           Therewasaveryliberalrepastonthetables,plentyofchampagne,claret,etc.,and,infact,everythingseemedtobedoneregardlessofexpense.Mr.Padgeisamanthat,Iadmit,Ihavenoparticularlikingfor,butIfeltsogladtocomeacrosssomeoneIknew,thatIaskedhimtositatourtable,andImustsaythatforashortfatmanhelookedwellinuniform,althoughIthinkhistunicwasratherbaggyintheback.Itwastheonlysupper-roomthatIhavebeeninthatwasnotover-crowded;infactweweretheonlypeoplethere,everybodybeingsobusydancing.

           IassistedCarrieandhernewly-formedacquaintance,whosaidhernamewasLupkin,tosomechampagne;alsomyself,andhandedthebottletoMr.Padgetodolikewise,saying:“Youmustlookafteryourself.