Щоденник незначної особи

           —WefoundWatneyLodgefartheroffthanweanticipated,andonlyarrivedastheclockstrucktwo,bothfeelinghotanduncomfortable.Tomakemattersworse,alargecolliedogpouncedforwardtoreceiveus.HebarkedloudlyandjumpedupatCarrie,coveringherlightskirt,whichshewaswearingforthefirsttime,withmud.TeddyFinsworthcameoutanddrovethedogoffandapologised.Wewereshownintothedrawing-room,whichwasbeautifullydecorated.Itwasfullofknick-knacks,andsomeplateshunguponthewall.Therewereseverallittlewoodenmilk-stoolswithpaintingsonthem;alsoawhitewoodenbanjo,paintedbyoneofMr.PaulFinsworth’snieces—acousinofTeddy’s.

           Mr.PaulFinsworthseemedquiteadistinguished-lookingelderlygentleman,andwasmostgallanttoCarrie.Therewereagreatmanywater-colourshangingonthewalls,mostlydifferentviewsofIndia,whichwereverybright.Mr.Finsworthsaidtheywerepaintedby“Simpz,”andaddedthathewasnojudgeofpictureshimselfbuthadbeeninformedongoodauthoritythattheywereworthsomehundredsofpounds,althoughhehadonlypaidafewshillingsapieceforthem,framesincluded,atasaleintheneighbourhood.

           Therewasalsoalargepictureinaveryhandsomeframe,doneincolouredcrayons.Itlookedlikeareligioussubject.Iwasverymuchstruckwiththelacecollar,itlookedsoreal,butIunfortunatelymadetheremarkthattherewassomethingabouttheexpressionofthefacethatwasnotquitepleasing.Itlookedpinched.Mr.