Щоденник незначної особи

           Hemadenoattempttoturndownthegasinthepassage,oreventolookintotheroomwherewewere,butwentstraightuptobed,makingaterriblenoise.Iaskedhimtocomedownforamoment,andhebeggedtobeexcused,ashewas“deadbeat,”anobservationthatwasscarcelyconsistentwiththefactthat,foraquarterofanhourafterwards,hewaspositivelydancinginhisroom,andshoutingout,“Seemedancethepolka!”orsomesuchnonsense.

           November3.—Goodnewsatlast.Mr.PerkupphasgotanappointmentforLupin,andheistogoandseeaboutitonMonday.Oh,howmymindisrelieved!IwenttoLupin’sroomtotakethegoodnewstohim,buthewasinbed,veryseedy,soIresolvedtokeepitovertilltheevening.

           HesaidhehadlastnightbeenelectedamemberofanAmateurDramaticClub,calledthe“HollowayComedians”;and,thoughitwasapleasantevening,hehadsatinadraught,andgotneuralgiainthehead.Hedeclinedtohaveanybreakfast,soIlefthim.IntheeveningIhadupaspecialbottleofport,and,Lupinbeinginforawonder,wefilledourglasses,andIsaid:“Lupinmyboy,Ihavesomegoodandunexpectednewsforyou.Mr.Perkupphasprocuredyouanappointment!”Lupinsaid:“Goodbiz!”andwedrainedourglasses.

           Lupinthensaid:“Filluptheglassesagain,forIhavesomegoodandunexpectednewsforyou.”

           Ihadsomeslightmisgivings,andsoevidentlyhadCarrie,forshesaid:“Ihopeweshallthinkitgoodnews.”

           Lupinsaid:“Oh,it’sallright!I’mengagedtobemarried!”