Щоденник незначної особи

           May6,Sunday.—Averydullsermon,duringwhich,Iregrettosay,ItwicethoughtoftheMansionHousereceptiontomorrow.

           May7.—Abigred-letterday;viz.,theLordMayor’sreception.Thewholehouseupset.Ihadtogetdressedathalf-pastsix,asCarriewantedtheroomtoherself.Mrs.JameshadcomeupfromSuttontohelpCarrie;soIcouldnothelpthinkingitunreasonablethatsheshouldrequiretheentireattentionofSarah,theservant,aswell.Sarahkeptrunningoutofthehousetofetch“somethingformissis,”andseveraltimesIhad,inmyfullevening-dress,toanswertheback-door.

           Thelasttimeitwasthegreengrocer’sboy,who,notseeingitwasme,forSarahhadnotlightedthegas,pushedintomyhandstwocabbagesandhalf-a-dozencoal-blocks.Iindignantlythrewthemontheground,andfeltsoannoyedthatIsofarforgotmyselfastoboxtheboy’sears.Hewentawaycrying,andsaidheshouldsummonsme,athingIwouldnothavehappenfortheworld.Inthedark,Isteppedonapieceofthecabbage,whichbroughtmedownontheflagsallofaheap.ForamomentIwasstunned,butwhenIrecoveredIcrawledupstairsintothedrawing-roomandonlookingintothechimney-glassdiscoveredthatmychinwasbleeding,myshirtsmearedwiththecoal-blocks,andmylefttrousertornattheknee.

           However,Mrs.Jamesbroughtmedownanothershirt,whichIchangedinthedrawing-room.Iputapieceofcourt-plasteronmychin,andSarahveryneatlysewedupthetearattheknee.Atnineo’clockCarriesweptintotheroom,lookinglikeaqueen.