Chapter 9

           November15.—Ared-letterday.Ourfirstimportantpartysincewehavebeeninthishouse.IgothomeearlyfromtheCity.Lupininsistedonhavingahiredwaiter,andstoodahalf-dozenofchampagne.Ithinkthisanunnecessaryexpense,butLupinsaidhehadhadapieceofluck,havingmadethreepoundsoutaprivatedealintheCity.Ihopehewon’tgambleinhisnewsituation.Thesupper-roomlookedsonice,andCarrietrulysaid:“WeneednotbeashamedofitsbeingseenbyMr.Perkupp,shouldhehonourusbycoming.”

           Idressedearlyincasepeopleshouldarrivepunctuallyateighto’clock,andwasmuchvexedtofindmynewdress-trousersmuchtooshort.

           Lupin,whoisgettingbeyondhisposition,foundfaultwithmywearingordinarybootsinsteadofdress-boots.

           Irepliedsatirically:“Mydearson,Ihavelivedtobeabovethatsortofthing.”

           Lupinburstoutlaughing,andsaid:“Amangenerallywasabovehisboots.”

           ThisMaybefunny,oritMaynot;butIwasgratifiedtofindhehadnotdiscoveredthecoralhadcomeoffoneofmystuds.Carrielookedapicture,wearingthedresssheworeattheMansionHouse.Thearrangementofthedrawing-roomwasexcellent.Carriehadhungmuslincurtainsoverthefolding-doors,andalsooveroneoftheentrances,forwehadremovedthedoorfromitshinges.

           Mr.Peters,thewaiter,arrivedingoodtime,andIgavehimstrictordersnottoopenanotherbottleofchampagneuntilthepreviousonewasempty.Carriearrangedforsomesherryandportwinetobeplacedonthedrawing-roomsideboard,withsomeglasses.