Щоденник незначної особи

           Hesaiditwasthebestpartyhehadbeentoformanyayear;buthewishedwehadlethimknowitwasfulldress,ashewouldhaveturnedupinhisswallow-tails.Wesatdowntoaquietgameofdominoes,andwereinterruptedbythenoisyentranceofLupinandFrankMutlar.CummingsandIaskedthemtojoinus.Lupinsaidhedidnotcarefordominoes,andsuggestedagameof“Spoof.”Onmyaskingifitrequiredcounters,FrankandLupininmeasuredtimesaid:“One,two,three;go!HaveyouanestateinGreenland?”ItwassimplyGreektome,butitappearsitisoneofthecustomsofthe“HollowayComedians”todothiswhenamemberdisplaysignorance.

           Inspiteofmyinstructions,thatblanc-mangewasbroughtupagainforsupper.Tomakemattersworse,therehadbeenanattempttodisguiseit,byplacingitinaglassdishwithjamroundit.CarrieaskedLupinifhewouldhavesome,andhereplied:“Nosecond-handgoodsforme,thankyou.”ItoldCarrie,whenwewerealone,ifthatblanc-mangewereplacedonthetableagainIshouldwalkoutofthehouse.

           November19,Sunday.—Adelightfullyquietday.IntheafternoonLupinwasofftospendtherestofthedaywiththeMutlars.Hedepartedinthebestofspirits,andCarriesaid:“Well,oneadvantageofLupin’sengagementwithDaisyisthattheboyseemshappyalldaylong.ThatquitereconcilesmetowhatImustconfessseemsanimprudentengagement.”

           CarrieandItalkedthematteroverduringtheevening,andagreedthatitdidnotalwaysfollowthatanearlyengagementmeantanunhappymarriage