Щоденник незначної особи

           Jamesarrivedand,asusual,intheeveningtooktheentiremanagementofeverything.FindingthatsheandCarrieweremakingsomepreparationsfortable-turning,Ithoughtittimereallytoputmyfootdown.Ihavealwayshadthegreatestcontemptforsuchnonsense,andputanendtoityearsagowhenCarrie,atouroldhouse,usedtohaveséanceseverynightwithpoorMrs.Fussters(whoisnowdead).IfIcouldseeanyuseinit,Iwouldnotcare.AsIstoppeditinthedaysgoneby,Ideterminedtodosonow.

           Isaid:“IamverysorryMrs.James,butItotallydisapproveofit,apartfromthefactthatIreceivemyoldfriendsonthisevening.”

           Mrs.Jamessaid:“Doyoumeantosayyouhaven’treadThereisnoBirth?”Isaid:“No,andIhavenointentionofdoingso.”Mrs.Jamesseemedsurprisedandsaid:“Alltheworldisgoingmadoverthebook.”Irespondedrathercleverly:“Letit.Therewillbeonesanemaninit,atallevents.”

           Mrs.Jamessaidshethoughtitwasveryunkind,andifpeoplewereallasprejudicedasIwas,therewouldneverhavebeentheelectrictelegraphorthetelephone.

           Isaidthatwasquiteadifferentthing.

           Mrs.Jamessaidsharply:“Inwhatway,pray—inwhatway?”

           Isaid:“Inmanyways.”

           Mrs.Jamessaid:“Well,mentiononeway.”

           Irepliedquietly:“Pardonme,Mrs.James;Ideclinetodiscussthematter.Iamnotinterestedinit.”

           SarahatthismomentopenedthedoorandshowedinCummings,forwhichIwasthankful,forIfeltitwouldputastoptothisfoolishtable-turning.