Chapter 5

           May8.—Iwokeupwithamostterribleheadache.Icouldscarcelysee,andthebackofmyneckwasasifIhadgivenitacrick.Ithoughtfirstofsendingforadoctor;butIdidnotthinkitnecessary.Whenup,Ifeltfaint,andwenttoBrownish’s,thechemist,whogavemeadraught.Sobadattheoffice,hadtogetleavetocomehome.WenttoanotherchemistintheCity,andIgotadraught.Brownish’sdoseseemstohavemademeworse;haveeatennothingallday.Tomakemattersworse,Carrie,everytimeIspoketoher,answeredmesharply—thatis,whensheansweredatall.

           IntheeveningIfeltverymuchworseagainandsaidtoher:“IdobelieveI’vebeenpoisonedbythelobsterMayonnaiseattheMansionHouselastnight;”shesimplyreplied,withouttakinghereyesfromhersewing:“Champagneneverdidagreewithyou.”Ifeltirritated,andsaid:“Whatnonsenseyoutalk;Ionlyhadaglassandahalf,andyouknowaswellasIdo—”BeforeIcouldcompletethesentenceshebouncedoutoftheroom.Isatoveranhourwaitingforhertoreturn;butasshedidnot,IdeterminedIwouldgotobed.IdiscoveredCarriehadgonetobedwithoutevensaying“good-night”;leavingmetobarthescullerydoorandfeedthecat.Ishallcertainlyspeaktoheraboutthisinthemorning.

           May9.—Stillalittleshaky,withblackspecks.TheBlackfriarsBi-weeklyNewscontainsalonglistoftheguestsattheMansionHouseBall.Disappointedtofindournamesomitted,thoughFarmerson’sisinplainlyenoughwithM.L.L.