Chapter 22

           May26,Sunday.—WewenttoSuttonafterdinnertohavemeat-teawithMr.andMrs.James.Ihadnoappetite,havingdinedwellattwo,andtheentireeveningwasspoiledbylittlePercy—theironlyson—whoseemstometobeanutterlyspoiledchild.

           Twoorthreetimeshecameuptomeanddeliberatelykickedmyshins.Hehurtmeoncesomuchthatthetearscameintomyeyes.Igentlyremonstratedwithhim,andMrs.Jamessaid:“Pleasedon’tscoldhim;Idonotbelieveinbeingtooseverewithyoungchildren.Youspoiltheircharacter.”

           LittlePercysetupadeafeningyellhere,andwhenCarrietriedtopacifyhim,heslappedherface.

           Iwassoannoyed,Isaid:“Thatisnotmyideaofbringingupchildren,Mrs.James.”

           Mrs.Jamessaid.“Peoplehavedifferentideasofbringingupchildren—evenyoursonLupinisnotthestandardofperfection.”

           AMr.Mezzini(anItalian,Ifancy)heretookPercyinhislap.ThechildwriggledandkickedandbrokeawayfromMr.Mezzini,saying:“Idon’tlikeyou—you’vegotadirtyface.”

           Averynicegentleman,Mr.BirksSpooner,tookthechildbythewristandsaid:“Comehere,dear,andlistentothis.”

           Hedetachedhischronometerfromthechainandmadehiswatchstrikesix.

           Toourhorror,thechildsnatcheditfromhishandandbounceditdownuponthegroundlikeonewouldaball.

           Mr.BirksSpoonerwasmostamiable,andsaidhecouldeasilygetanewglassputin,anddidnotsupposetheworksweredamaged.