Щоденник незначної особи

           —Purchasedanewstickmountedwithsilver,whichcostseven-and-sixpence(shalltellCarriefiveshillings),andsentitroundwithnicenotetoGowing.

           May23.—ReceivedstrangenotefromGowing;hesaid:“Offended?notabit,myboy—Ithoughtyouwereoffendedwithmeforlosingmytemper.Besides,Ifoundafterall,itwasnotmypoorolduncle’sstickyoupainted.ItwasonlyashillingthingIboughtatatobacconist’s.However,Iammuchobligedtoyouforyourhandsomepresentallsame.”

           May24.—Carrieback.Hoorah!Shelookswonderfullywell,exceptthatthesunhascaughthernose.

           May25.—CarriebroughtdownsomeofmyshirtsandadvisedmetotakethemtoTrillip’sroundthecorner.Shesaid:“Thefrontsandcuffsaremuchfrayed.”Isaidwithoutamoment’shesitation:“I’m’frayedtheyare.”Lor!howweroared.Ithoughtweshouldneverstoplaughing.AsIhappenedtobesittingnextthedrivergoingtotownonthe’bus,Itoldhimmyjokeaboutthe“frayed”shirts.Ithoughthewouldhaverolledoffhisseat.Theylaughedattheofficeagoodbittoooverit.

           May26.—LefttheshirtstoberepairedatTrillip’s.Isaidtohim:“I’m’fraidtheyarefrayed.”Hesaid,withoutasmile:“They’reboundtodothat,sir.”Somepeopleseemtobequitedestituteofasenseofhumour.

           June1.—Thelastweekhasbeenlikeoldtimes,Carriebeingback,andGowingandCummingscallingeveryeveningnearly.Twicewesatoutinthegardenquitelate.