A New Lodger

           Thelongvacationsauntersontowardsterm-timelikeanidleriververyleisurelystrollingdownaflatcountrytothesea.Mr.Guppysauntersalongwithitcongenially.Hehasbluntedthebladeofhispenknifeandbrokenthepointoffbystickingthatinstrumentintohisdeskineverydirection.Notthathebearsthedeskanyillwill,buthemustdosomething,anditmustbesomethingofanunexcitingnature,whichwilllayneitherhisphysicalnorhisintellectualenergiesundertooheavycontribution.Hefindsthatnothingagreeswithhimsowellastomakelittlegyrationsononelegofhisstool,andstabhisdesk,andgape.KengeandCarboyareoutoftown,andthearticledclerkhastakenoutashootinglicenseandgonedowntohisfather’s,andMr.Guppy’stwofellow-stipendiariesareawayonleave.Mr.GuppyandMr.RichardCarstonedividethedignityoftheoffice.ButMr.CarstoneisforthetimebeingestablishedinKenge’sroom,whereatMr.Guppychafes.Soexceedinglythathewithbitingsarcasminformshismother,intheconfidentialmomentswhenhesupswithheroffalobsterandlettuceintheOldStreetRoad,thatheisafraidtheofficeishardlygoodenoughforswells,andthatifhehadknowntherewasaswellcoming,hewouldhavegotitpainted.Mr.GuppysuspectseverybodywhoentersontheoccupationofastoolinKengeandCarboy’sofficeofentertaining,asamatterofcourse,sinisterdesignsuponhim.Heisclearthateverysuchpersonwantstodeposehim.Ifhebeeveraskedhow,why,when,orwherefore,heshutsuponeeyeandshakeshishead.