Щоденник незначної особи

           Thosewhohavequarrelledwithabsentfriendsshouldkissandmakeitup.Thosewhohappilyhavenotfallenout,cankissallthesame.”

           IsawthetearsintheeyesofbothCarrieandhermother,andmustsayIfeltveryflatteredbythecompliment.ThatdearoldReverendJohnPanzySmith,whomarriedus,madeamostcheerfulandamusingspeech,andsaidheshouldactonmysuggestionrespectingthekissing.Hethenwalkedroundthetableandkissedalltheladies,includingCarrie.Ofcourseonedidnotobjecttothis;butIwasmorethanstaggeredwhenayoungfellownamedMoss,whowasastrangertome,andwhohadscarcelyspokenawordthroughdinner,jumpedupsuddenlywithasprigofmisletoe,andexclaimed:“Hulloh!Idon’tseewhyIshouldn’tbeoninthisscene.”Beforeonecouldrealisewhathewasabouttodo,hekissedCarrieandtherestoftheladies.

           Fortunatelythematterwastreatedasajoke,andwealllaughed;butitwasadangerousexperiment,andIfeltveryuneasyforamomentastotheresult.IsubsequentlyreferredtothemattertoCarrie,butshesaid:“Oh,he’snotmuchmorethanaboy.”Isaidthathehadaverylargemoustacheforaboy.Carriereplied:“Ididn’tsayhewasnotaniceboy.”

           December26.—Ididnotsleepverywelllastnight;Ineverdoinastrangebed.Ifeelalittleindigestion,whichonemustexpectatthistimeoftheyear.CarrieandIreturnedtoTownintheevening.Lupincameinlate.