,I
know
.
"
I
went
with
him
to
his
carriage
,
and
he
said
:
"
Do
n't
trouble
to
come
to
the
office
till
twelve
to-morrow
.
"
I
felt
despondent
as
I
went
back
to
the
house
,
and
I
told
Carrie
I
thought
the
party
was
a
failure
.
Carrie
said
it
was
a
great
success
,
and
I
was
only
tired
,
and
insisted
on
my
having
some
port
myself
.
I
drank
two
glasses
,
and
felt
much
better
,
and
we
went
into
the
drawing-room
,
where
they
had
commenced
dancing
.
Carrie
and
I
had
a
little
dance
,
which
I
said
reminded
me
of
old
days
.
She
said
I
was
a
spooney
old
thing
.
CHAPTER
X
.
Reflections
.
I
make
another
Good
Joke
.
Am
annoyed
at
the
constant
serving-up
of
the
"
Blanc-Mange
.
"
Lupin
expresses
his
opinion
of
Weddings
.
Lupin
falls
out
with
Daisy
Mutlar
.
November
16
—
Woke
about
twenty
times
during
the
night
,
with
terrible
thirst
.
Finished
off
all
the
water
in
the
bottle
,
as
well
as
half
that
in
the
jug
.
Kept
dreaming
,
also
,
that
last
night
's
party
was
a
failure
,
and
that
a
lot
of
low
people
came
without
invitation
,
and
kept
chaffing
and
throwing
things
at
Mr.
Perkupp
,
till
at
last
I
was
obliged
to
hide
him
in
the
box-room
(
which
we
had
just
discovered
)
,
with
a
bath-towel
over
him
.
It
seems
absurd
now
,
but
it
was
painfully
real
in
the
dream
.
I
had
the
same
dream
about
a
dozen
times
.
Carrie
annoyed
me
by
saying
:
"
You
know
champagne
never
agrees
with
you
.
"
I
told
her
I
had
only
a
couple
of
glasses
of
it
,
having
kept
myself
entirely
to
port
.
I
added
that
good
champagne
hurt
nobody
,
and
Lupin
told
me
he
had
only
got
it
from
a
traveller
as
a
favour
,
as
that
particular
brand
had
been
entirely
bought
up
by
a
West-End
club
.
I
think
I
ate
too
heartily
of
the
"
side
dishes
,
"
as
the
waiter
called
them
.
I
said
to
Carrie
:
"
I
wish
I
had
put
those
'
side
dishes
'
aside
.
"
I
repeated
this
,
but
Carrie
was
busy
,
packing
up
the
teaspoons
we
had
borrowed
of
Mrs.
Cummings
for
the
party
.
It
was
just
half-past
eleven
,
and
I
was
starting
for
the
office
,
when
Lupin
appeared
,
with
a
yellow
complexion
,
and
said
:
"
Hulloh
,
Guv
.
,
what
priced
head
have
you
this
morning
?
"
I
told
him
he
might
just
as
well
speak
to
me
in
Dutch
.
He
added
:
"
When
I
woke
this
morning
,
my
head
was
as
big
as
Baldwin
's
balloon
.
"
On
the
spur
of
the
moment
I
said
the
cleverest
thing
I
think
I
have
ever
said
;
viz.
:
"
Perhaps
that
accounts
for
the
para
shooting
pains
.
"
We
all
three
roared
.
November
17.
—
Still
feel
tired
and
headachy
!
In
the
evening
Gowing
called
,
and
was
full
of
praise
about
our
party
last
Wednesday
.
He
said
everything
was
done
beautifully
,
and
he
enjoyed
himself
enormously
.
Gowing
can
be
a
very
nice
fellow
when
he
likes
,
but
you
never
know
how
long
it
will
last
.
For
instance
,
he
stopped
to
supper
,
and
seeing
some
blanc-mange
on
the
table
,
shouted
out
,
while
the
servant
was
in
the
room
:
"
Hulloh
!
The
remains
of
Wednesday
?
"
November
18.
—
Woke
up
quite
fresh
after
a
good
night
's
rest
,
and
feel
quite
myself
again
.
I
am
satisfied
a
life
of
going-out
and
Society
is
not
a
life
for
me
;
we
therefore
declined
the
invitation
which
we
received
this
morning
to
Miss
Bird
's
wedding
.
We
only
met
her
twice
at
Mrs.
James
'
,
and
it
means
a
present
.
Lupin
said
:
"
I
am
with
you
for
once
.
To
my
mind
a
wedding
's
a
very
poor
play
.
There
are
only
two
parts
in
it-the
bride
and
bridegroom
.
The
best
man
is
only
a
walking
gentleman
.
With
the
exception
of
a
crying
father
and
a
snivelling
mother
,
the
rest
are
supers
who
have
to
dress
well
and
have
to
pay
for
their
insignificant
parts
in
the
shape
of
costly
presents
.
"
I
did
not
care
for
the
theatrical
slang
,
but
thought
it
clever
,
though
disrespectful
.
I
told
Sarah
not
to
bring
up
the
blanc-mange
again
for
breakfast
.
It
seems
to
have
been
placed
on
our
table
at
every
meal
since
Wednesday
.
Cummings
came
round
in
the
evening
,
and
congratulated
us
on
the
success
of
our
party
.
He
said
it
was
the
best
party
he
had
been
to
for
many
a
year
;
but
he
wished
we
had
let
him
know
it
was
full
dress
,
as
he
would
have
turned
up
in
his
swallow-tails
.
We
sat
down
to
a
quiet
game
of
dominoes
,
and
were
interrupted
by
the
noisy
entrance
of
Lupin
and
Frank
Mutlar
.
Cummings
and
I
asked
them
to
join
us
.
Lupin
said
he
did
not
care
for
dominoes
,
and
suggested
a
game
of
"
Spoof
.
"
On
my
asking
if
it
required
counters
,
Frank
and
Lupin
in
measured
time
said
:
"
One
,
two
,
three
;
go
!
Have
you
an
estate
in
Greenland
?
"
It
was
simply
Greek
to
me
,
but
it
appears
it
is
one
of
the
customs
of
the
"
Holloway
Comedians
"
to
do
this
when
a
member
displays
ignorance
.
In
spite
of
my
instructions
,
that
blanc-mange
was
brought
up
again
for
supper
.
To
make
matters
worse
,
there
had
been
an
attempt
to
disguise
it
,
by
placing
it
in
a
glass
dish
with
jam
round
it
.
Carrie
asked
Lupin
if
he
would
have
some
,
and
he
replied
:
"
No
second-hand
goods
for
me
,
thank
you
.
"
I
told
Carrie
,
when
we
were
alone
,
if
that
blanc-mange
were
placed
on
the
table
again
,
I
should
walk
out
of
the
house
.
November
19
,
Sunday
.
—
A
delightfully
quiet
day
.
In
the
afternoon
Lupin
was
off
to
spend
the
rest
of
the
day
with
the
Mutlars
.
He
departed
in
the
best
of
spirits
,
and
Carrie
said
:
"
Well
,
one
advantage
of
Lupin
's
engagement
with
Daisy
is
that
the
boy
seems
happy
all
day
long
.
That
quite
reconciles
me
to
what
I
must
confess
seems
an
imprudent
engagement
.
"
Carrie
and
I
talked
the
matter
over
during
the
evening
,
and
agreed
that
it
did
not
always
follow
that
an
early
engagement
meant
an
unhappy
marriage
.
Dear
Carrie
reminded
me
that
we
married
early
,
and
,
with
the
exception
of
a
few
trivial
misunder­standings
,
we
had
never
had
a
really
serious
word
.
I
could
not
help
thinking
(
as
I
told
her
)
that
half
the
pleasures
of
life
were
derived
from
the
little
struggles
and
small
privations
that
one
had
to
endure
at
the
beginning
of
one
's
married
life
.
Such
struggles
were
generally
occasioned
by
want
of
means
,
and
often
helped
to
make
loving
couples
stand
together
all
the
firmer
.
Carrie
said
I
had
expressed
myself
wonderfully
well
,
and
that
I
was
quite
a
philosopher
.
We
are
all
vain
at
times
,
and
I
must
confess
I
felt
flattered
by
Carrie
's
little
compliment
.
I
do
n't
pretend
to
be
able
to
express
myself
in
fine
language
,
but
I
feel
I
have
the
power
of
expressing
my
thoughts
with
simplicity
and
lucidness
.
About
nine
o'clock
,
to
our
surprise
,
Lupin
entered
,
with
a
wild
,
reckless
look
,
and
in
a
hollow
voice
,
which
I
must
say
seemed
rather
theatrical
,
said
:
"
Have
you
any
brandy
?
"
I
said
:
"
No
;
but
here
is
some
whisky
.
"
Lupin
drank
off
nearly
a
wineglassful
without
water
,
to
my
horror
.
We
all
three
sat
reading
in
silence
till
ten
,
when
Carrie
and
I
rose
to
go
to
bed
.
Carrie
said
to
Lupin
:
"
I
hope
Daisy
is
well
?
"
Lupin
,
with
a
forced
careless
air
that
he
must
have
picked
up
from
the
"
Holloway
Comedians
,
"
replied
:
"
Oh
,
Daisy
?
You
mean
Miss
Mutlar
.
I
do
n't
know
whether
she
is
well
or
not
,
but
please
never
to
mention
her
name
again
in
my
presence
.
"
CHAPTER
XI
.
We
have
a
dose
of
Irving
imitations
.
Make
the
acquaintance
of
a
Mr.
Padge
.
Do
n't
care
for
him
.
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
becomes
a
nuisance
.
November
20
—
Have
seen
nothing
of
Lupin
the
whole
day
.
Bought
a
cheap
address-book
.
I
spent
the
evening
copying
in
the
names
and
addresses
of
my
friends
and
acquaintances
.
Left
out
the
Mutlars
of
course
.
November
21.
—
Lupin
turned
up
for
a
few
minutes
in
the
evening
.
He
asked
for
a
drop
of
brandy
with
a
sort
of
careless
look
,
which
to
my
mind
was
theatrical
and
quite
ineffective
.
I
said
:
"
My
boy
,
I
have
none
,
and
I
do
n't
think
I
should
give
it
you
if
I
had
.
"
Lupin
said
:
"
I
'll
go
where
I
can
get
some
,
"
and
walked
out
of
the
house
.
Carrie
took
the
boy
's
part
,
and
the
rest
of
the
evening
was
spent
in
a
disagreeable
discussion
,
in
which
the
words
"
Daisy
"
and
"
Mutlar
"
must
have
occurred
a
thousand
times
.
November
22.
—
Gowing
and
Cummings
dropped
in
during
the
evening
.
Lupin
also
came
in
,
bringing
his
friend
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton-one
of
the
"
Holloway
Comedians
"
-who
was
at
our
party
the
other
night
,
and
who
cracked
our
little
round
table
.
Happy
to
say
Daisy
Mutlar
was
never
referred
to
.
The
conversation
was
almost
entirely
monopolised
by
the
young
fellow
Fosselton
,
who
not
only
looked
rather
like
Mr.
Irving
,
but
seemed
to
imagine
that
he
was
the
celebrated
actor
.
I
must
say
he
gave
some
capital
imitations
of
him
.
As
he
showed
no
signs
of
moving
at
supper
time
,
I
said
:
"
If
you
like
to
stay
,
Mr.
Fosselton
,
for
our
usual
crust-pray
do
.
"
He
replied
:
"
Oh
!
thanks
;
but
please
call
me
Burwin-Fosselton
.
It
is
a
double
name
.
There
are
lots
of
Fosseltons
,
but
please
call
me
Burwin-Fosselton
.
"
He
began
doing
the
Irving
business
all
through
supper
.
He
sank
so
low
down
in
his
chair
that
his
chin
was
almost
on
a
level
with
the
table
,
and
twice
he
kicked
Carrie
under
the
table
,
upset
his
wine
,
and
flashed
a
knife
uncomfortably
near
Gowing
's
face
.
After
supper
he
kept
stretching
out
his
legs
on
the
fender
,
indulging
in
scraps
of
quotations
from
plays
which
were
Greek
to
me
,
and
more
than
once
knocked
over
the
fire-irons
,
making
a
hideous
row-poor
Carrie
already
having
a
bad
headache
.
When
he
went
,
he
said
,
to
our
surprise
:
"
I
will
come
to-morrow
and
bring
my
Irving
make-up
.
"
Gowing
and
Cummings
said
they
would
like
to
see
it
and
would
come
too
.
I
could
not
help
thinking
they
might
as
well
give
a
party
at
my
house
while
they
are
about
it
.
However
,
as
Carrie
sensibly
said
:
"
Do
anything
,
dear
,
to
make
Lupin
forget
the
Daisy
Mutlar
business
.
"
November
23.
—
In
the
evening
,
Cummings
came
early
.
Gowing
came
a
little
later
and
brought
,
without
asking
permission
,
a
fat
and
,
I
think
,
very
vulgar-looking
man
named
Padge
,
who
appeared
to
be
all
moustache
.
Gowing
never
attempted
any
apology
to
either
of
us
,
but
said
Padge
wanted
to
see
the
Irving
business
,
to
which
Padge
said
:
"
That
's
right
,
"
and
that
is
about
all
he
did
say
during
the
entire
evening
.
Lupin
came
in
and
seemed
in
much
better
spirits
.
He
had
prepared
a
bit
of
a
surprise
.
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
had
come
in
with
him
,
but
had
gone
upstairs
to
get
ready
.
In
half-an-hour
Lupin
retired
from
the
parlour
,
and
returning
in
a
few
minutes
,
announced
"
Mr.
Henry
Irving
.
"
I
must
say
we
were
all
astounded
.
I
never
saw
such
a
resemblance
.
It
was
astonishing
.
The
only
person
who
did
not
appear
interested
was
the
man
Padge
,
who
had
got
the
best
arm-chair
,
and
was
puffing
away
at
a
foul
pipe
into
the
fireplace
.
After
some
little
time
I
said
:
"
Why
do
actors
always
wear
their
hair
so
long
?
"
Carrie
in
a
moment
said
,
"
Mr.
Hare
does
n't
wear
long
hair
.
"
How
we
laughed
except
Mr.
Fosselton
,
who
said
,
in
a
rather
patronising
kind
of
way
,
"
The
joke
,
Mrs.
Pooter
,
is
extremely
appropriate
,
if
not
altogether
new
.
"
Thinking
this
rather
a
snub
,
I
said
:
"
Mr.
Fosselton
,
I
fancy
--
"
He
interrupted
me
by
saying
:
"
Mr.
Burwin
—
Fosselton
,
if
you
please
,
"
which
made
me
quite
forget
what
I
was
going
to
say
to
him
.
During
the
supper
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
again
monopolised
the
conversation
with
his
Irving
talk
,
and
both
Carrie
and
I
came
to
the
conclusion
one
can
have
even
too
much
imitation
of
Irving
.
After
supper
,
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
got
a
little
too
boisterous
over
his
Irving
imitation
,
and
suddenly
seizing
Gowing
by
the
collar
of
his
coat
,
dug
his
thumb-nail
,
accidentally
of
course
,
into
Gowing
's
neck
and
took
a
piece
of
flesh
out
.
Gowing
was
rightly
annoyed
,
but
that
man
Padge
,
who
having
declined
our
modest
supper
in
order
that
he
should
not
lose
his
comfortable
chair
,
burst
into
an
uncontrollable
fit
of
laughter
at
the
little
misadventure
.
I
was
so
annoyed
at
the
conduct
of
Padge
,
I
said
:
"
I
suppose
you
would
have
laughed
if
he
had
poked
Mr.
Gowing
's
eye
out
?
"
to
which
Padge
replied
:
"
That
's
right
,
"
and
laughed
more
than
ever
.
I
think
perhaps
the
greatest
surprise
was
,
when
we
broke
up
,
for
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
said
:
"
Good-night
,
Mr.
Pooter
.
I
'm
glad
you
like
the
imitation
,
I
'll
bring
the
other
make-up
to-morrow
night
.
"
November
24.
—
I
went
to
town
without
a
pocket-handkerchief
.
This
is
the
second
time
I
have
done
this
during
the
last
week
.
I
must
be
losing
my
memory
.
Had
it
not
been
for
this
Daisy
Mutlar
business
,
I
would
have
written
to
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
and
told
him
I
should
be
out
this
evening
,
but
I
fancy
he
is
the
sort
of
young
man
who
would
come
all
the
same
.
Dear
old
Cummings
came
in
the
evening
;
but
Gowing
sent
round
a
little
note
,
saying
he
hoped
I
would
excuse
his
not
turning
up
,
which
rather
amused
me
.
He
added
that
his
neck
was
still
painful
.
Of
course
,
Burwin-Fosselton
came
,
but
Lupin
never
turned
up
,
and
imagine
my
utter
disgust
when
that
man
Padge
actually
came
again
,
and
not
even
accompanied
by
Gowing
.
I
was
exasperated
,
and
said
:
"
Mr.
Padge
,
this
is
a
surprise
.
"
Dear
Carrie
fearing
unpleasantness
said
,
"
Oh
!
I
suppose
Mr.
Padge
has
only
come
to
see
the
other
Irving
make-up
.
"
Mr.
Padge
said
,
"
That
's
right
,
"
and
took
the
best
chair
again
,
from
which
he
never
moved
the
whole
evening
.
My
only
consolation
is
,
he
takes
no
supper
,
so
he
is
not
an
expensive
guest
,
but
I
shall
speak
to
Gowing
about
the
matter
.
The
Irving
imitations
and
conversations
occupied
the
whole
evening
,
till
I
was
sick
of
it
.
Once
we
had
a
rather
heated
discussion
,
which
was
commenced
by
Cummings
saying
that
it
appeared
to
him
that
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
was
not
only
like
Mr.
Irving
,
but
was
in
his
judgment
every
way
as
good
or
even
better
.
I
ventured
to
remark
that
after
all
it
was
but
an
imitation
of
an
original
.
Cummings
said
surely
some
imitations
were
better
than
the
originals
.
I
made
what
I
considered
a
clever
remark
:
"
Without
an
original
there
can
be
no
imitation
.
"
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
said
quite
impertinently
:
"
Do
n't
discuss
me
in
my
presence
,
if
you
please
;
and
Mr.
Pooter
,
I
should
advise
you
to
talk
about
what
you
understand
;
"
to
which
that
cad
Padge
replied
:
"
That
's
right
.
"
Dear
Carrie
saved
the
whole
thing
by
suddenly
saying
:
"
I
'll
be
Ellen
Terry
.
"
Dear
Carrie
's
imitation
was
n't
a
bit
liked
,
but
she
was
so
spontaneous
and
so
funny
that
the
disagreeable
discussion
passed
off
.
When
they
left
,
I
very
pointedly
said
to
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
and
Mr.
Padge
that
we
should
be
engaged
to-morrow
evening
.
November
25.
—
Had
a
long
letter
from
Mr.
Fosselton
respecting
last
night
's
Irving
discussion
.
I
was
very
angry
,
and
I
wrote
and
said
I
knew
little
or
nothing
about
stage
matters
,
was
not
in
the
least
interested
in
them
and
positively
declined
to
be
drawn
into
a
discussion
on
the
subject
,
even
at
the
risk
of
its
leading
to
a
breach
of
friendship
.
I
never
wrote
a
more
determined
letter
.
On
returning
home
at
the
usual
early
hour
on
Saturday
afternoon
I
met
near
the
Archway
Daisy
Mutlar
.
My
heart
gave
a
leap
.
I
bowed
rather
stiffly
,
but
she
affected
not
to
have
seen
me
.
Very
much
annoyed
in
the
evening
by
the
laundress
sending
home
an
odd
sock
.
Sarah
said
she
sent
two
pairs
and
the
laundress
declared
only
a
pair
and
a
half
were
sent
.
I
spoke
to
Carrie
about
it
,
but
she
rather
testily
replied
:
"
I
am
tired
of
speaking
to
her
;
you
had
better
go
and
speak
to
her
yourself
.
She
is
outside
.
"
I
did
so
,
but
the
laundress
declared
that
only
an
odd
sock
was
sent
.
Gowing
passed
into
the
passage
at
this
time
and
was
rude
enough
to
listen
to
the
conversation
,
and
interrupting
,
said
,
"
Do
n't
waste
the
odd
sock
old
man
;
do
an
act
of
charity
and
give
it
to
some
poor
man
with
only
one
leg
.
"
The
laundress
giggled
like
an
idiot
.
I
was
disgusted
and
walked
upstairs
for
the
purpose
of
pinning
down
my
collar
,
as
the
button
had
come
off
the
back
of
my
shirt
.
When
I
returned
to
the
parlour
.
Gowing
was
retailing
his
idiotic
joke
about
the
odd
sock
,
and
Carrie
was
roaring
with
laughter
.
I
suppose
I
am
losing
my
sense
of
humour
.
I
spoke
my
mind
pretty
freely
about
Padge
.
Gowing
said
he
had
met
him
only
once
before
that
evening
.
He
had
been
introduced
by
a
friend
,
and
as
he
(
Padge
)
had
"
stood
"
a
good
dinner
.
Gowing
wished
to
show
him
some
little
return
.
Upon
my
word
.
Gowing
's
coolness
surpasses
all
belief
.
Lupin
came
in
before
I
could
reply
,
and
Gowing
unfortunately
enquired
after
Daisy
Mutlar
.
Lupin
shouted
:
"
Mind
your
own
business
,
sir
!
"
and
bounced
out
of
the
room
,
slamming
the
door
.
The
remainder
of
the
night
was
Daisy
Mutlar-Daisy
Mutlar-Daisy
Mutlar
.
Oh
dear
!
November
26
,
Sunday
.
—
The
curate
preached
a
very
good
sermon
to-day-very
good
indeed
.
His
appearance
is
never
so
impressive
as
our
dear
old
vicar
's
,
but
I
am
bound
to
say
his
sermons
are
much
more
impressive
.
A
rather
annoying
incident
occurred
,
of
which
I
must
make
mention
.
Mrs.
Fernlosse
,
who
is
quite
a
grand
lady
,
living
in
one
of
those
large
houses
in
the
Camden
Road
,
stopped
to
speak
to
me
after
church
,
when
we
were
all
coming
out
.
I
must
say
I
felt
flattered
,
for
she
is
thought
a
good
deal
of
.
I
suppose
she
knew
me
through
seeing
me
so
often
take
round
the
plate
,
especially
as
she
always
occupies
the
corner
seat
of
the
pew
.
She
is
a
very
influential
lady
,
and
may
have
had
something
of
the
utmost
importance
to
say
,
but
,
unfortunately
,
as
she
commenced
to
speak
a
strong
gust
of
wind
came
and
blew
my
hat
off
into
the
middle
of
the
road
.
I
had
to
run
after
it
,
and
had
the
greatest
difficulty
in
recovering
it
.
When
I
had
succeeded
in
doing
,
so
I
found
Mrs.
Fernlosse
had
walked
on
with
some
swell
friends
,
and
I
felt
I
could
not
well
approach
her
now
,
especially
as
my
hat
was
smothered
with
mud
.
I
cannot
say
how
disappointed
I
felt
.
In
the
evening
(
Sunday
evening
of
all
others
)
I
found
an
impertinent
note
from
Mr.
Burwin-Fosselton
,
which
ran
as
follows
:
"
Dear
Mr.
Pooter
,
—
Although
your
junior
by
perhaps
some
twenty
or
thirty
years-which
is
sufficient
reason
that
you
ought
to
have
a
longer
record
of
the
things
and
ways
in
this
miniature
of
a
planet-I
feel
it
is
just
within
the
bounds
of
possibility
that
the
wheels
of
your
life
do
n't
travel
so
quickly
round
as
those
of
the
humble
writer
of
these
lines
.
The
dandy
horse
of
past
days
has
been
known
to
overtake
the
slow
coach
.
"
Do
I
make
myself
understood
?
"
Very
well
,
then
!
Permit
me
,
Mr.
Pooter
,
to
advise
you
to
accept
the
verb
.
sap
.
Acknowledge
your
defeat
,
and
take
your
whipping
gracefully
:
for
remember
you
threw
down
the
glove
,
and
I
cannot
claim
to
be
either
mentally
or
physically
a
coward
!
"
Revenons
à
nos
moutons
.
"
Our
lives
run
in
different
grooves
.
I
live
for
MY
ART-THE
STAGE
.
Your
life
is
devoted
to
commercial
pursuits-'A
Life
among
Ledgers
.
'
My
books
are
of
different
metal
.
Your
life
in
the
City
is
honourable
,
I
admit
.
But
how
different
!
Cannot
even
you
see
the
ocean
between
us
?
A
channel
that
prevents
the
meeting
of
our
brains
in
harmonious
accord
.
Ah
!
But
chaçun
á
son
gout
.
"
I
have
registered
a
vow
to
mount
the
steps
of
fame
.
I
may
crawl
,
I
may
slip
,
I
may
even
falter
(
we
all
are
weak
)
,
but
reach
the
top
rung
of
the
ladder
I
will
!
!
!
When
there
,
my
voice
shall
be
heard
,
for
I
will
shout
to
the
multitudes
below
:
'
Vici
!
'
For
the
present
I
am
only
an
amateur
,
and
my
work
is
unknown
,
forsooth
,
save
to
a
party
of
friends
,
with
here
and
there
an
enemy
.
"
But
,
Mr.
Pooter
,
let
me
ask
you
,
'
What
is
the
difference
between
the
amateur
and
the
professional
?
'
"
None
!
!
!
"
Stay
!
Yes
,
there
is
a
difference
.
One
is
paid
for
doing
what
the
other
does
as
skilfully
for
nothing
!
"
But
I
will
be
paid
,
too
!
For
I
,
contrary
to
the
wishes
of
my
family
and
friends
,
have
at
last
elected
to
adopt
the
stage
as
my
profession
.
And
when
the
farce
craze
is
over-
and
,
mark
you
,
that
will
be
soon
—
I
will
make
my
power
known
;
for
I
feel-pardon
my
apparent
conceit-that
there
is
no
living
man
who
can
play
the
hump-backed
Richard
as
I
feel
and
know
I
can
.
"
And
you
will
be
the
first
to
come
round
and
bend
your
head
in
submission
.
There
are
many
matters
you
may
understand
,
but
knowledge
of
the
fine
art
of
acting
is
to
you
an
unknown
quantity
.
"
Pray
let
this
discussion
cease
with
this
letter
.
Vale
!
"
Yours
truly
,
"
Burwin-Fosselton
.
"
I
was
disgusted
.
When
Lupin
came
in
,
I
handed
him
this
impertinent
letter
,
and
said
:
"
My
boy
,
in
that
letter
you
can
see
the
true
character
of
your
friend
.
"
Lupin
,
to
my
surprise
,
said
:
"
Oh
yes
.
He
showed
me
the
letter
before
he
sent
it
.
I
think
he
is
right
,
and
you
ought
to
apologise
.
"
CHAPTER
XII
.
A
serious
discussion
concerning
the
use
and
value
of
my
diary
.
Lupin
's
opinion
of
'
Xmas
.
Lupin
's
unfortunate
engagement
is
on
again
.
December
17
—
As
I
open
my
scribbling
diary
I
find
the
words
"
Oxford
Michaelmas
Term
ends
.
"
Why
this
should
induce
me
to
indulge
in
retrospective
I
do
n't
know
,
but
it
does
.
The
last
few
weeks
of
my
diary
are
of
minimum
interest
.
The
breaking-off
of
the
engagement
between
Lupin
and
Daisy
Mutlar
has
made
him
a
different
being
,
and
Carrie
a
rather
depressing
companion
.
She
was
a
little
dull
last
Saturday
,
and
I
thought
to
cheer
her
up
by
reading
some
extracts
from
my
diary
;
but
she
walked
out
of
the
room
in
the
middle
of
the
reading
,
without
a
word
.
On
her
return
,
I
said
:
"
Did
my
diary
bore
you
,
darling
?
"
She
replied
,
to
my
surprise
:
"
I
really
was
n't
listening
,
dear
.
I
was
obliged
to
leave
to
give
instructions
to
the
laundress
.
In
consequence
of
some
stuff
she
puts
in
the
water
,
two
more
of
Lupin
's
coloured
shirts
have
run
;
and
he
says
he
wo
n't
wear
them
.
"
I
said
:
"
Everything
is
Lupin
.
It
's
all
Lupin
,
Lupin
,
Lupin
.
There
was
not
a
single
button
on
my
shirt
yesterday
,
but
I
made
no
complaint
.
"
Carrie
simply
replied
:
"
You
should
do
as
all
other
men
do
,
and
wear
studs
.
In
fact
,
I
never
saw
anyone
but
you
wear
buttons
on
the
shirt-fronts
.
"
I
said
:
"
I
certainly
wore
none
yesterday
,
for
there
were
none
on
.
"
Another
thought
that
strikes
me
is
that
Gowing
seldom
calls
in
the
evening
,
and
Cummings
never
does
.
I
fear
they
do
n't
get
on
well
with
Lupin
.
December
18.
—
Yesterday
I
was
in
a
retrospective
vein-to-day
it
is
prospective
.
I
see
nothing
but
clouds
,
clouds
,
clouds
.
Lupin
is
perfectly
intolerable
over
the
Daisy
Mutlar
business
.
He
wo
n't
say
what
is
the
cause
of
the
breach
.
He
is
evidently
condemning
her
conduct
,
and
yet
,
if
we
venture
to
agree
with
him
,
says
he
wo
n't
hear
a
word
against
her
.
So
what
is
one
to
do
?
Another
thing
which
is
disappointing
to
me
is
,
that
Carrie
and
Lupin
take
no
interest
whatever
in
my
diary
.
I
broached
the
subject
at
the
breakfast-table
to-day
.
I
said
:
"
I
was
in
hopes
that
,
if
anything
ever
happened
to
me
,
the
diary
would
be
an
endless
source
of
pleasure
to
you
both
;
to
say
nothing
of
the
chance
of
the
remuneration
which
may
accrue
from
its
being
published
.
"
Both
Carrie
and
Lupin
burst
out
laughing
.
Carrie
was
sorry
for
this
,
I
could
see
,
for
she
said
:
"
I
did
not
mean
to
be
rude
,
dear
Charlie
;
but
truly
I
do
not
think
your
diary
would
sufficiently
interest
the
public
to
be
taken
up
by
a
publisher
.
"
I
replied
:
"
I
am
sure
it
would
prove
quite
as
interesting
as
some
of
the
ridiculous
reminiscences
that
have
been
published
lately
.
Besides
,
it
's
the
diary
that
makes
the
man
.
Where
would
Evelyn
and
Pepys
have
been
if
it
had
not
been
for
their
diaries
?
"
Carrie
said
I
was
quite
a
philosopher
;
but
Lupin
,
in
a
jeering
tone
,
said
:
"
If
it
had
been
written
on
larger
paper
,
Guv
.
,
we
might
get
a
fair
price
from
a
butterman
for
it
.
"
As
I
am
in
the
prospective
vein
,
I
vow
the
end
of
this
year
will
see
the
end
of
my
diary
.
December
19.
—
The
annual
invitation
came
to
spend
Christmas
with
Carrie
's
mother-the
usual
family
festive
gathering
to
which
we
always
look
forward
.
Lupin
declined
to
go
.
I
was
astounded
,
and
expressed
my
surprise
and
disgust
.
Lupin
then
obliged
us
with
the
following
Radical
speech
:
"
I
hate
a
family
gathering
at
Christmas
.
What
does
it
mean
?
Why
someone
says
:
'
Ah
!
we
miss
poor
Uncle
James
,
who
was
here
last
year
,
'
and
we
all
begin
to
snivel
.
Someone
else
says
:
'
It
's
two
years
since
poor
Aunt
Liz
used
to
sit
in
that
corner
.
'
Then
we
all
begin
to
snivel
again
.
Then
another
gloomy
relation
says
:
'
Ah
!
I
wonder
whose
turn
it
will
be
next
?
'
Then
we
all
snivel
again
,
and
proceed
to
eat
and
drink
too
much
;
and
they
do
n't
discover
until
I
get
up
that
we
have
been
seated
thirteen
at
dinner
.
"
December
20.
—
Went
to
Smirksons
'
,
the
drapers
,
in
the
Strand
,
who
this
year
have
turned
out
everything
in
the
shop
and
devoted
the
whole
place
to
the
sale
of
Christmas
cards
.
Shop
crowded
with
people
,
who
seemed
to
take
up
the
cards
rather
roughly
,
and
,
after
a
hurried
glance
at
them
,
throw
them
down
again
.
I
remarked
to
one
of
the
young
persons
serving
,
that
carelessness
appeared
to
be
a
disease
with
some
purchasers
.
The
observation
was
scarcely
out
of
my
mouth
,
when
my
thick
coat-sleeve
caught
against
a
large
pile
of
expensive
cards
in
boxes
one
on
top
of
the
other
,
and
threw
them
down
.
The
manager
came
forward
,
looking
very
much
annoyed
,
and
picking
up
several
cards
from
the
ground
,
said
to
one
of
the
assistants
,
with
a
palpable
side-glance
at
me
:
"
Put
these
amongst
the
sixpenny
goods
;
they
ca
n't
be
sold
for
a
shilling
now
.
"
The
result
was
,
I
felt
it
my
duty
to
buy
some
of
these
damaged
cards
.
I
had
to
buy
more
and
pay
more
than
I
intended
.
Unfortunately
I
did
not
examine
them
all
,
and
when
I
got
home
I
discovered
a
vulgar
card
with
a
picture
of
a
fat
nurse
with
two
babies
,
one
black
and
the
other
white
,
and
the
words
:
"
We
wish
Pa
a
Merry
Christmas
.
"
I
tore
up
the
card
and
threw
it
away
.
Carrie
said
the
great
disadvantage
of
going
out
in
Society
and
increasing
the
number
of
our
friends
was
,
that
we
should
have
to
send
out
nearly
two
dozen
cards
this
year
.
December
21.
—
To
save
the
postmen
a
miserable
Christmas
,
we
follow
the
example
of
all
unselfish
people
,
and
send
out
our
cards
early
.
Most
of
the
cards
had
finger-marks
,
which
I
did
not
notice
at
night
.
I
shall
buy
all
future
cards
in
the
daytime
.
Lupin
(
who
,
ever
since
he
has
had
the
appointment
with
a
stock
and
share
broker
,
does
not
seem
over-scrupulous
in
his
dealings
)
told
me
never
to
rub
out
the
pencilled
price
on
the
backs
of
the
cards
.
I
asked
him
why
.
Lupin
said
:
"
Suppose
your
card
is
marked
9d
.
Well
,
all
you
have
to
do
is
to
pencil
a
3-and
a
long
down-stroke
after
it-in
front
of
the
ninepence
,
and
people
will
think
you
have
given
five
times
the
price
for
it
.
"
In
the
evening
Lupin
was
very
low-spirited
,
and
I
reminded
him
that
behind
the
clouds
the
sun
was
shining
.
He
said
:
"
Ugh
!
it
never
shines
on
me
.
"
I
said
:
"
Stop
,
Lupin
,
my
boy
;
you
are
worried
about
Daisy
Mutlar
.
Do
n't
think
of
her
any
more
.
You
ought
to
congratulate
yourself
on
having
got
off
a
very
bad
bargain
.
Her
notions
are
far
too
grand
for
our
simple
tastes
.
"
He
jumped
up
and
said
:
"
I
wo
n't
allow
one
word
to
be
uttered
against
her
.
She
's
worth
the
whole
bunch
of
your
friends
put
together
,
that
inflated
,
sloping-head
of
a
Perkupp
included
.
"
I
left
the
room
with
silent
dignity
,
but
caught
my
foot
in
the
mat
.
December
23.
—
I
exchanged
no
words
with
Lupin
in
the
morning
;
but
as
he
seemed
to
be
in
exuberant
spirits
in
the
evening
,
I
ventured
to
ask
him
where
he
intended
to
spend
his
Christmas
.
He
replied
:
"
Oh
,
most
likely
at
the
Mutlars
'
.
"
In
wonderment
,
I
said
:
"
What
!
after
your
engagement
has
been
broken
off
?
"
Lupin
said
:
"
Who
said
it
is
off
?
"
I
said
:
"
You
have
given
us
both
to
understand--
"
He
interrupted
me
by
saying
:
"
Well
,
never
mind
what
I
said
.
It
is
on
again-there
!
"
CHAPTER
XIII
.
I
receive
an
insulting
Christmas
card
.
We
spend
a
pleasant
Christmas
at
Carrie
's
mother
's
.
A
Mr.
Moss
is
rather
too
free
.
A
boisterous
evenings
during
which
I
am
struck
in
the
dark
.
I
receive
an
extra­ordinary
letter
from
Mr.
Mutlar
,
senior
,
respecting
Lupin
.
We
miss
drinking
out
the
Old
Year
.
December
24th
.
—
I
am
a
poor
man
,
but
I
would
gladly
give
ten
shillings
to
find
out
who
sent
me
the
insulting
Christmas
card
I
received
this
morning
.
I
never
insult
people
;
why
should
they
insult
me
?
The
worst
part
of
the
transaction
is
,
that
I
find
myself
suspecting
all
my
friends
.
The
handwriting
on
the
envelope
is
evidently
disguised
,
being
written
sloping
the
wrong
way
.
I
cannot
think
either
Gowing
or
Cummings
would
do
such
a
mean
thing
.
Lupin
denied
all
knowledge
of
it
,
and
I
believe
him
;
although
I
disapprove
of
his
laughing
and
sympathising
with
the
offender
.
Mr.
Franching
would
be
above
such
an
act
;
and
I
do
n't
think
any
of
the
Mutlars
would
descend
to
such
a
course
.
I
wonder
if
Pitt
,
that
impudent
clerk
at
the
office
,
did
it
?
Or
Mrs.
Birrell
,
the
charwoman
,
or
Burwin-Fosselton
?
The
writing
is
too
good
for
the
former
.
Christmas
Day
.
—
We
caught
the
10.20
train
at
Paddington
,
and
spent
a
pleasant
day
at
Carrie
's
mother
's
.
The
country
was
quite
nice
and
pleasant
,
although
the
roads
were
sloppy
.
We
dined
in
the
middle
of
the
day
,
just
ten
of
us
,
and
talked
over
old
times
.
If
everybody
had
a
nice
,
un
interfering
mother-in-law
,
such
as
I
have
,
what
a
deal
of
happiness
there
would
be
in
the
world
.
Being
all
in
good
spirits
,
I
proposed
her
health
;
and
I
made
,
I
think
,
a
very
good
speech
.
I
concluded
,
rather
neatly
,
by
saying
:
"
On
an
occasion
like
this-whether
relatives
,
friends
,
or
acquaintances
,
-we
are
all
inspired
with
good
feelings
towards
each
other
.
We
are
of
one
mind
,
and
think
only
of
love
and
friendship
.
Those
who
have
quarrelled
with
absent
friends
should
kiss
and
make
it
up
.
Those
who
happily
have
not
fallen
out
,
can
kiss
all
the
same
.
"
I
saw
the
tears
in
the
eyes
of
both
Carrie
and
her
mother
,
and
must
say
I
felt
very
flattered
by
the
compliment
.
That
dear
old
Reverend
John
Panzy
Smith
,
who
married
us
,
made
a
most
cheerful
and
amusing
speech
,
and
said
he
should
act
on
my
suggestion
respecting
the
kissing
.
He
then
walked
round
the
table
and
kissed
all
the
ladies
,
including
Carrie
.
Of
course
one
did
not
object
to
this
;
but
I
was
more
than
staggered
when
a
young
fellow
named
Moss
,
who
was
a
stranger
to
me
,
and
who
had
scarcely
spoken
a
word
through
dinner
,
jumped
up
suddenly
with
a
sprig
of
mistletoe
,
and
exclaimed
:
"
Hulloh
!
I
do
n't
see
why
I
should
n't
be
on
in
this
scene
.
"
Before
one
could
realise
what
he
was
about
to
do
,
he
kissed
Carrie
and
the
rest
of
the
ladies
.
Fortunately
the
matter
was
treated
as
a
joke
,
and
we
all
laughed
;
but
it
was
a
dangerous
experiment
,
and
I
felt
very
uneasy
for
a
moment
as
to
the
result
.
I
subsequently
referred
to
the
matter
to
Carrie
,
but
she
said
:
"
Oh
,
he
's
not
much
more
than
a
boy
.
"
I
said
that
he
had
a
very
large
moustache
for
a
boy
.
Carrie
replied
:
"
I
did
n't
say
he
was
not
a
nice
boy
.
"
December
26.
—
I
did
not
sleep
very
well
last
night
;
I
never
do
in
a
strange
bed
.
I
feel
a
little
indigestion
,
which
one
must
expect
at
this
time
of
the
year
.
Carrie
and
I
returned
to
Town
in
the
evening
.
Lupin
came
in
late
.
He
said
he
enjoyed
his
Christmas
,
and
added
:
"
I
feel
as
fit
as
a
Lowther
Arcade
fiddle
,
and
only
require
a
little
more
'
oof
'
to
feel
as
fit
as
a
£
500
Stradivarius
.
"
I
have
long
since
given
up
trying
to
understand
Lupin
's
slang
,
or
asking
him
to
explain
it
.
December
27.
—
I
told
Lupin
I
was
expecting
Gowing
and
Cummings
to
drop
in
to-morrow
evening
for
a
quiet
game
.
I
was
in
hope
the
boy
would
volunteer
to
stay
in
,
and
help
to
amuse
them
.
Instead
of
which
,
he
said
:
"
Oh
,
you
had
better
put
them
off
,
as
I
have
asked
Daisy
and
Frank
Mutlar
to
come
.
"
I
said
I
could
not
think
of
doing
such
a
thing
.
Lupin
said
:
"
Then
I
will
send
a
wire
,
and
put
off
Daisy
.
"
I
suggested
that
a
postcard
or
letter
would
reach
her
quite
soon
enough
,
and
would
not
be
so
extravagant
.
Carrie
,
who
had
listened
to
the
above
conversation
with
apparent
annoyance
,
directed
a
well-aimed
shaft
at
Lupin
.
She
said
:
"
Lupin
,
why
do
you
object
to
Daisy
meeting
your
father
's
friends
?
Is
it
because
they
are
not
good
enough
for
her
,
or
(
which
is
equally
possible
)
she
is
not
good
enough
for
them
?
"
Lupin
was
dumbfounded
,
and
could
make
no
reply
.
When
he
left
the
room
,
I
gave
Carrie
a
kiss
of
approval
.
December
28.
—
Lupin
,
on
coming
down
to
breakfast
,
said
to
his
mother
:
"
I
have
not
put
off
Daisy
and
Frank
,
and
should
like
them
to
join
Gowing
and
Cummings
this
evening
.
"
I
felt
very
pleased
with
the
boy
for
this
.
Carrie
said
,
in
reply
:
"
I
am
glad
you
let
me
know
in
time
,
as
I
can
turn
over
the
cold
leg
of
mutton
,
dress
it
with
a
little
parsley
,
and
no
one
will
know
it
has
been
cut
.
"
She
further
said
she
would
make
a
few
custards
,
and
stew
some
pippins
,
so
that
they
would
be
cold
by
the
evening
.
Finding
Lupin
in
good
spirits
,
I
asked
him
quietly
if
he
really
had
any
personal
objection
to
either
Gowing
or
Cummings
.
He
replied
:
"
Not
in
the
least
.
I
think
Cummings
looks
rather
an
ass
,
but
that
is
partly
due
to
his
patronising
'
the
three-and-six-one-price
hat
company
,
'
and
wearing
a
reach-me-down
frock-coat
.
As
for
that
perpetual
brown
velveteen
jacket
of
Gowing's-why
,
he
resembles
an
itinerant
photographer
.
"
I
said
it
was
not
the
coat
that
made
the
gentleman
;
whereupon
Lupin
,
with
a
laugh
,
replied
:
"
No
,
and
it
was
n't
much
of
a
gentleman
who
made
their
coats
.
"
We
were
rather
jolly
at
supper
,
and
Daisy
made
herself
very
agreeable
,
especially
in
the
earlier
part
of
the
evening
,
when
she
sang
.
At
supper
,
however
,
she
said
:
"
Can
you
make
tee-to-tums
with
bread
?
"
and
she
commenced
rolling
up
pieces
of
bread
,
and
twisting
them
round
on
the
table
.
I
felt
this
to
be
bad
manners
,
but
of
course
said
nothing
.
Presently
Daisy
and
Lupin
,
to
my
disgust
,
began
throwing
bread-pills
at
each
other
.
Frank
followed
suit
,
and
so
did
Cummings
and
Gowing
,
to
my
astonishment
.
They
then
commenced
throwing
hard
pieces
of
crust
,
one
piece
catching
me
on
the
forehead
,
and
making
me
blink
.
I
said
:
"
Steady
,
please
;
steady
!
"
Frank
jumped
up
,
and
said
:
"
Tum
,
tum
;
then
the
band
played
.
"
I
did
not
know
what
this
meant
,
but
they
all
roared
,
and
continued
the
bread-battle
.
Gowing
suddenly
seized
all
the
parsley
off
the
cold
mutton
,
and
threw
it
full
in
my
face
.
I
looked
daggers
at
Gowing
,
who
replied
:
"
I
say
,
it
's
no
good
trying
to
look
indignant
,
with
your
hair
full
of
parsley
.
"
I
rose
from
the
table
,
and
insisted
that
a
stop
should
be
put
to
this
foolery
at
once
.
Frank
Mutlar
shouted
:
"
Time
,
gentlemen
,
please
!
time
!
"
and
turned
out
the
gas
,
leaving
us
in
absolute
darkness
.
I
was
feeling
my
way
out
of
the
room
,
when
I
suddenly
received
a
hard
intentional
punch
at
the
back
of
my
head
.
I
said
,
loudly
:
"
Who
did
that
?
"
There
was
no
answer
;
so
I
repeated
the
question
,
with
the
same
result
.
I
struck
a
match
,
and
lighted
the
gas
.
They
were
all
talking
and
laughing
,
so
I
kept
my
own
counsel
;
but
,
after
they
had
gone
,
I
said
to
Carrie
:
"
The
person
who
sent
me
that
insulting
post-card
at
Christmas
was
here
to-night
.
"
December
29.
—
I
had
a
most
vivid
dream
last
night
.
I
woke
up
,
and
on
falling
asleep
,
dreamed
the
same
dream
over
again
precisely
.
I
dreamt
I
heard
Frank
Mutlar
telling
his
sister
that
he
had
not
only
sent
me
the
insulting
Christmas
card
,
but
admitted
that
he
was
the
one
who
punched
my
head
last
night
in
the
dark
.
As
fate
would
have
it
,
Lupin
,
at
breakfast
,
was
reading
extracts
from
a
letter
he
had
just
received
from
Frank
.
I
asked
him
to
pass
the
envelope
,
that
I
might
compare
the
writing
.
He
did
so
,
and
I
examined
it
by
the
side
of
the
envelope
containing
the
Christmas
card
.
I
detected
a
similarity
in
the
writing
,
in
spite
of
the
attempted
disguise
.
I
passed
them
on
to
Carrie
,
who
began
to
laugh
.
I
asked
her
what
she
was
laughing
at
,
and
she
said
the
card
was
never
directed
to
me
at
all
.
It
was
"
L
.
Pooter
,
"
not
"
C
.
Pooter
.
"
Lupin
asked
to
look
at
the
direction
and
the
card
,
and
exclaimed
,
with
a
laugh
:
"
Oh
yes
,
Guv
.
,
it
's
meant
for
me
.
"
I
said
:
"
Are
you
in
the
habit
of
receiving
insulting
Christmas
cards
?
"
He
replied
:
"
Oh
yes
,
and
of
sending
them
,
too
.
"
In
the
evening
Gowing
called
,
and
said
he
enjoyed
himself
very
much
last
night
.
I
took
the
opportunity
to
confide
in
him
,
as
an
old
friend
,
about
the
vicious
punch
last
night
.
He
burst
out
laughing
,
and
said
:
"
Oh
,
it
was
your
head
,
was
it
?
I
know
I
accidentally
hit
something
,
but
I
thought
it
was
a
brick
wall
.
"
I
told
him
I
felt
hurt
,
in
both
senses
of
the
expression
.
December
30
,
Sunday
.
—
Lupin
spent
the
whole
day
with
the
Mutlars
.
He
seemed
rather
cheerful
in
the
evening
,
so
I
said
:
"
I
'm
glad
to
see
you
so
happy
,
Lupin
.
"
He
answered
:
"
Well
,
Daisy
is
a
splendid
girl
,
but
I
was
obliged
to
take
her
old
fool
of
a
father
down
a
peg
.
What
with
his
meanness
over
his
cigars
,
his
stinginess
over
his
drinks
,
his
farthing
economy
in
turning
down
the
gas
if
you
only
quit
the
room
for
a
second
,
writing
to
one
on
half-sheets
of
note-paper
,
sticking
the
remnant
of
the
last
cake
of
soap
on
to
the
new
cake
,
putting
two
bricks
on
each
side
of
the
fireplace
,
and
his
general
'
outside-halfpenny-'bus-ness
,
'
I
was
compelled
to
let
him
have
a
bit
of
my
mind
.
"
I
said
:
"
Lupin
,
you
are
not
much
more
than
a
boy
;
I
hope
you
wo
n't
repent
it
.
"
December
31.
—
The
last
day
of
the
Old
Year
.
I
received
an
extraordinary
letter
from
Mr.
Mutlar
,
senior
.
He
writes
:
"
Dear
Sir
,
-For
a
long
time
past
,
I
have
had
considerable
difficulty
deciding
the
important
question
,
'
Who
is
the
master
of
my
own
house
?
Myself
,
or
your
son
Lupin
?
'
Believe
me
,
I
have
no
prejudice
one
way
or
the
other
;
but
I
have
been
most
reluctantly
compelled
to
give
judgment
to
the
effect
that
I
am
the
master
of
it
.
Under
the
circumstances
,
it
has
become
my
duty
to
forbid
your
son
to
enter
my
house
again
.
I
am
sorry
,
because
it
deprives
me
of
the
society
of
one
of
the
most
modest
,
unassuming
,
and
gentlemanly
persons
I
have
ever
had
the
honour
of
being
acquainted
with
.
"
I
did
not
desire
the
last
day
to
wind
up
disagreeably
,
so
I
said
nothing
to
either
Carrie
or
Lupin
about
the
letter
.
A
most
terrible
fog
came
on
,
and
Lupin
would
go
out
in
it
,
but
promised
to
be
back
to
drink
out
the
Old
Year-a
custom
we
have
always
observed
.
At
a
quarter
to
twelve
Lupin
had
not
returned
,
and
the
fog
was
fearful
.
As
time
was
drawing
close
,
I
got
out
the
spirits
.
Carrie
and
I
deciding
on
whisky
,
I
opened
a
fresh
bottle
;
but
Carrie
said
it
smelt
like
brandy
.
As
I
knew
it
to
be
whisky
,
I
said
there
was
nothing
to
discuss
.
Carrie
,
evidently
vexed
that
Lupin
had
not
come
in
,
did
discuss
it
all
the
same
,
and
wanted
me
to
have
a
small
wager
with
her
to
decide
by
the
smell
.
I
said
I
could
decide
it
by
the
taste
in
a
moment
.
A
silly
and
unnecessary
argument
followed
,
the
result
of
which
was
we
suddenly
saw
it
was
a
quarter-past
twelve
,
and
,
for
the
first
time
in
our
married
life
,
we
missed
welcoming
in
the
New
Year
.
Lupin
got
home
at
a
quarter-past
two
,
having
got
lost
in
the
fog-so
he
said
.
CHAPTER
XIV
.
Begin
the
year
with
an
unexpected
promotion
at
the
office
.
I
make
two
good
jokes
.
I
get
an
enormous
rise
in
my
salary
.
Lupin
speculates
successfully
and
starts
a
pony-trap
.
Have
to
speak
to
Sarah
.
Extraordinary
conduct
of
Gowing
's
.
January
1
—
I
had
intended
concluding
my
diary
last
week
;
but
a
most
important
event
has
happened
,
so
I
shall
continue
for
a
little
while
longer
on
the
fly-leaves
attached
to
the
end
of
my
last
year
's
diary
.
It
had
just
struck
half-past
one
,
and
I
was
on
the
point
of
leaving
the
office
to
have
my
dinner
,
when
I
received
a
message
that
Mr.
Perkupp
desired
to
see
me
at
once
.
I
must
confess
that
my
heart
commenced
to
beat
and
I
had
most
serious
misgivings
.
Mr.
Perkupp
was
in
his
room
writing
,
and
he
said
:
"
Take
a
seat
,
Mr.
Pooter
,
I
shall
not
be
a
moment
.
"
I
replied
:
"
No
,
thank
you
,
sir
;
I
'll
stand
.
"
I
watched
the
clock
on
the
mantelpiece
,
and
I
was
waiting
quite
twenty
minutes
;
but
it
seemed
hours
.
Mr.
Perkupp
at
last
got
up
himself
.
I
said
:
"
I
hope
there
is
nothing
wrong
,
sir
?
"
He
replied
:
"
Oh
dear
,
no
!
quite
the
reverse
,
I
hope
.
"
What
a
weight
off
my
mind
!
My
breath
seemed
to
come
back
again
in
an
instant
.
Mr.
Perkupp
said
:
"
Mr.
Buckling
is
going
to
retire
,
and
there
will
be
some
slight
changes
in
the
office
.
You
have
been
with
us
nearly
twenty-one
years
,
and
,
in
consequence
of
your
conduct
during
that
period
,
we
intend
making
a
special
promotion
in
your
favour
.
We
have
not
quite
decided
how
you
will
be
placed
;
but
in
any
case
there
will
be
a
considerable
increase
in
your
salary
,
which
,
it
is
quite
unnecessary
for
me
to
say
,
you
fully
deserve
.
I
have
an
appointment
at
two
;
but
you
shall
hear
more
to-morrow
.
"
He
then
left
the
room
quickly
,
and
I
was
not
even
allowed
time
or
thought
to
express
a
single
word
of
grateful
thanks
to
him
.
I
need
not
say
how
dear
Carrie
received
this
joyful
news
.
With
perfect
simplicity
she
said
:
"
At
last
we
shall
be
able
to
have
a
chimney-glass
for
the
back
drawing-room
,
which
we
always
wanted
.
"
I
added
:
"
Yes
,
and
at
last
you
shall
have
that
little
costume
which
you
saw
at
Peter
Robinson
's
so
cheap
.
"
January
2.
—
I
was
in
a
great
state
of
suspense
all
day
at
the
office
.
I
did
not
like
to
worry
Mr.
Perkupp
;
but
as
he
did
not
send
for
me
,
and
mentioned
yesterday
that
he
would
see
me
again
today
,
I
thought
it
better
,
perhaps
,
to
go
to
him
.
I
knocked
at
his
door
,
and
on
entering
,
Mr.
Perkupp
said
:
"
Oh
!
it
's
you
,
Mr.
Pooter
;
do
you
want
to
see
me
?
"
I
said
:
"
No
,
sir
,
I
thought
you
wanted
to
see
me
?
"
"
Oh
!
"
he
replied
,
"
I
remember
.
Well
,
I
am
very
busy
to-day
;
I
will
see
you
to-morrow
.
"
January
3.
—
Still
in
a
state
of
anxiety
and
excitement
,
which
was
not
alleviated
by
ascertaining
that
Mr.
Perkupp
sent
word
he
should
not
be
at
the
office
at
all
to-day
.
In
the
evening
,
Lupin
,
who
was
busily
engaged
with
a
paper
,
said
suddenly
to
me
:
"
Do
you
know
anything
about
chalk
pits
,
Guv
.
?
"
I
said
:
"
No
,
my
boy
,
not
that
I
'm
aware
of
.
"
Lupin
said
:
"
Well
,
I
give
you
the
tip
;
chalk
pits
are
as
safe
as
Consols
,
and
pay
six
per
cent
.
at
par
.
"
I
said
a
rather
neat
thing
,
viz
:
"
They
may
be
six
per
cent
.
at
par
,
but
your
pa
has
no
money
to
invest.
"
Carrie
and
I
both
roared
with
laughter
.
Lupin
did
not
take
the
slightest
notice
of
the
joke
,
although
I
purposely
repeated
it
for
him
;
but
continued
:
"
I
give
you
the
tip
,
that
's
all-
chalk
pits
!
"
I
said
another
funny
thing
:
"
Mind
you
do
n't
fall
into
them
!
"
Lupin
put
on
a
supercilious
smile
,
and
said
:
"
Bravo
!
Joe
Miller
.
"
January
4.
—
Mr.
Perkupp
sent
for
me
and
told
me
that
my
position
would
be
that
of
one
of
the
senior
clerks
.
I
was
more
than
overjoyed
.
Mr.
Perkupp
added
,
he
would
let
me
know
to-morrow
what
the
salary
would
be
.
This
means
another
day
's
anxiety
;
I
do
n't
mind
,
for
it
is
anxiety
of
the
right
sort
.
That
reminded
me
that
I
had
forgotten
to
speak
to
Lupin
about
the
letter
I
received
from
Mr.
Mutlar
,
senr
.
I
broached
the
subject
to
Lupin
in
the
evening
,
having
first
consulted
Carrie
.
Lupin
was
riveted
to
the
Financial
News
,
as
if
he
had
been
a
born
capitalist
,
and
I
said
:
"
Pardon
me
a
moment
,
Lupin
,
how
is
it
you
have
not
been
to
the
Mutlars
any
day
this
week
?
"
Lupin
answered
:
"
I
told
you
!
I
cannot
stand
old
Mutlar
.
"
I
said
:
"
Mr.
Mutlar
writes
to
me
to
say
pretty
plainly
that
he
cannot
stand
you
!
"
Lupin
said
:
"
Well
,
I
like
his
cheek
in
writing
to
you
.
I
'll
find
out
if
his
father
is
still
alive
,
and
I
will
write
him
a
note
complaining
of
his
son
,
and
I
'll
state
pretty
clearly
that
his
son
is
a
blithering
idiot
!
"
I
said
:
"
Lupin
,
please
moderate
your
expressions
in
the
presence
of
your
mother
.
"
Lupin
said
:
"
I
'm
very
sorry
,
but
there
is
no
other
expression
one
can
apply
to
him
.
However
,
I
'm
determined
not
to
enter
his
place
again
.
"
I
said
:
"
You
know
,
Lupin
,
he
has
forbidden
you
the
house
.
"
Lupin
replied
:
"
Well
,
we
wo
n't
split
straws-it
's
all
the
same
.
Daisy
is
a
trump
,
and
will
wait
for
me
ten
years
,
if
necessary
.
"
January
5.
—
I
can
scarcely
write
the
news
.
Mr.
Perkupp
told
me
my
salary
would
be
raised
£
100
!
I
stood
gaping
for
a
moment
unable
to
realise
it
.
I
annually
get
£
10
rise
,
and
I
thought
it
might
be
£
15
or
even
£
20
;
but
£
100
surpasses
all
belief
.
Carrie
and
I
both
rejoiced
over
our
good
fortune
.
Lupin
came
home
in
the
evening
in
the
utmost
good
spirits
.
I
sent
Sarah
quietly
round
to
the
grocer
's
for
a
bottle
of
champagne
,
the
same
as
we
had
before
,
"
Jackson
Frères
.
"
It
was
opened
at
supper
,
and
I
said
to
Lupin
:
"
This
is
to
celebrate
some
good
news
I
have
received
to-day
.
"
Lupin
replied
:
"
Hooray
,
Guv
.
!
And
I
have
some
good
news
,
also
;
a
double
event
,
eh
?
"
I
said
:
"
My
boy
,
as
a
result
of
twenty-one
years
'
industry
and
strict
attention
to
the
interest
of
my
superiors
in
office
,
I
have
been
rewarded
with
promotion
and
a
rise
in
salary
of
£
100.
"
Lupin
gave
three
cheers
,
and
we
rapped
the
tables
furiously
,
which
brought
in
Sarah
to
see
what
the
matter
was
.
Lupin
ordered
us
to
"
fill
up
"
again
,
and
addressing
us
upstanding
,
said
:
"
Having
been
in
the
firm
of
Job
Cleanands
,
stock
and
share-brokers
,
a
few
weeks
,
and
not
having
paid
particular
attention
to
the
interests
of
my
superiors
in
office
,
my
Guv'nor
,
as
a
reward
to
me
,
allotted
me
£
5
worth
of
shares
in
a
really
good
thing
.
The
result
is
,
to-day
I
have
made
£
200.
"
I
said
:
"
Lupin
,
you
are
joking
.
"
"
No
,
Guv
.
,
it
's
the
good
old
truth
;
Job
Cleanands
put
me
on
to
Chlorates
.
"
January
21.
—
I
am
very
much
concerned
at
Lupin
having
started
a
pony-trap
.
I
said
:
"
Lupin
,
are
you
justified
in
this
outrageous
extravagance
?
"
Lupin
replied
:
"
Well
,
one
must
get
to
the
City
somehow
.
I
've
only
hired
it
,
and
can
give
it
up
any
time
I
like
.
"
I
repeated
my
question
:
"
Are
you
justified
in
this
extravagance
?
"
He
replied
:
"
Look
here
,
Guv
.
;
excuse
my
saying
so
,
but
you
're
a
bit
out
of
date
.
It
does
not
pay
nowadays
,
fiddling
about
over
small
things
.
I
do
n't
mean
anything
personal
,
Guv'nor
.
My
boss
says
if
I
take
his
tip
,
and
stick
to
big
things
,
I
can
make
