Щоденник незначної особи

           Purdickhappenedtosay“Youarecertainlyunorthodox,Mr.Huttle.”Mr.Huttle,withapeculiarexpression(Icanseeitnow)saidinaslowrichvoice:“Mrs.Purdick,‘orthodox’isagrandiloquentwordimplyingsticking-inthe-mud.IfColumbusandStephensonhadbeenorthodox,therewouldneitherhavebeenthediscoveryofAmericanorthesteam-engine.”Therewasquiteasilence.Itappearedtomethatsuchteachingwasabsolutelydangerous,andyetIfelt—infactwemustallhavefelt—therewasnoanswertotheargument.Alittlelateron,Mrs.Purdick,whoisFranching’ssisterandalsoactedashostess,rosefromthetable,andMr.Huttlesaid:“Why,ladies,doyoudepriveusofyourcompanysosoon?Whynotwaitwhilewehaveourcigars?”

           Theeffectwaselectrical.Theladies(includingCarrie)wereinnowayinclinedtobedeprivedofMr.Huttle’sfascinatingsociety,andimmediatelyresumedtheirseats,amidmuchlaughterandalittlechaff.Mr.Huttlesaid:“Well,that’sarealgoodsign;youshallnotbeinsultedbybeingcalledorthodoxanylonger.”Mrs.Purdick,whoseemedtobeabrightandrathersharpwoman,said:“Mr.Huttle,wewillmeetyouhalf-way—thatis,tillyougethalf-waythroughyourcigar.That,atallevents,willbethehappymedium.”

           Ishallneverforgettheeffectthewords,“happymedium,”haduponhim.Hewasbrilliantandmostdaringinhisinterpretationofthewords.Hepositivelyalarmedme.Hesaidsomethinglikethefollowing:“Happymedium,indeed.