Щоденник незначної особи

           FinsworththatIfearedshefoundMr.Shortoccasionallyalittleembarrassing.Tomysurpriseshesaid:“Oh!heisprivilegedyouknow.”Ididnotknowasamatteroffact,andsoIbowedapologetically.IfailtoseewhyMr.Shortshouldbeprivileged.

           Anotherthingthatannoyedmeatdinnerwasthatthecolliedog,whichjumpedupatCarrie,wasallowedtoremainunderthedining-roomtable.ItkeptgrowlingandsnappingatmybootseverytimeImovedmyfoot.Feelingnervousrather,IspoketoMrs.Finsworthabouttheanimal,andsheremarked:“Itisonlyhisplay.”Shejumpedupandletinafrightfullyugly-lookingspanielcalledBibbs,whichhadbeenscratchingatthedoor.Thisdogalsoseemedtotakeafancytomyboots,andIdiscoveredafterwardsthatithadlickedoffeverybitofblackingfromthem.Iwaspositivelyashamedofbeingseeninthem.Mrs.Finsworth,who,Imustsay,isnotmuchofaJob’scomforter,said:“Oh!weareusedtoBibbsdoingthattoourvisitors.”

           Mr.Finsworthhadupsomefineport,althoughIquestionwhetheritisagoodthingtotakeonthetopofbeer.Itmademefeelalittlesleepy,whileithadtheeffectofinducingMr.Shorttobecome“privileged”toratheranalarmingextent.ItbeingcoldevenforApril,therewasafireinthedrawing-room;wesatroundineasy-chairs,andTeddyandIwaxedrathereloquentovertheoldschooldays,whichhadtheeffectofsendingalltheotherstosleep.Iwasdelighted,asfarasMr.Shortwasconcerned,thatitdidhavethateffectonhim.