the diary of a nobody-第8部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


vered　with　soot　in　consequence　of　his　visit。　　I　would　willingly　give　ten　shillings　to　find　out　who　tore　my　diary。

November　2。　…　I　spent　the　evening　quietly　with　Carrie；　of　whose　company　I　never　tire。　　We　had　a　most　pleasant　chat　about　the　letters　on　〃Is　Marriage　a　Failure？〃　　It　has　been　no　failure　in　our　case。　　In　talking　over　our　own　happy　experiences；　we　never　noticed　that　it　was　past　midnight。　　We　were　startled　by　hearing　the　door　slam　violently。　　Lupin　had　come　in。　　He　made　no　attempt　to　turn　down　the　gas　in　the　passage；　or　even　to　look　into　the　room　where　we　were；　but　went　straight　up　to　bed；　making　a　terrible　noise。　　I　asked　him　to　come　down　for　a　moment；　and　he　begged　to　be　excused；　as　he　was　〃dead　beat；〃　an　observation　that　was　scarcely　consistent　with　the　fact　that；　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour　afterwards；　he　was　positively　dancing　in　his　room；　and　shouting　out；　〃See　me　dance　the　polka！〃　or　some　such　nonsense。

November　3。　…　Good　news　at　last。　　Mr。　Perkupp　has　got　an　appointment　for　Lupin；　and　he　is　to　go　and　see　about　it　on　Monday。　Oh；　how　my　mind　is　relieved！　　I　went　to　Lupin's　room　to　take　the　good　news　to　him；　but　he　was　in　bed；　very　seedy；　so　I　resolved　to　keep　it　over　till　the　evening。

He　said　he　had　last　night　been　elected　a　member　of　an　Amateur　Dramatic　Club；　called　the　〃Holloway　Comedians〃；　and；　though　it　was　a　pleasant　evening；　he　had　sat　in　a　draught；　and　got　neuralgia　in　the　head。　　He　declined　to　have　any　breakfast；　so　I　left　him。　　　In　the　evening　I　had　up　a　special　bottle　of　port；　and；　Lupin　being　in　for　a　wonder；　we　filled　our　glasses；　and　I　said：　　〃Lupin　my　boy；　I　have　some　good　and　unexpected　news　for　you。　　Mr。　Perkupp　has　procured　you　an　appointment！〃　　Lupin　said：　　〃Good　biz！〃　and　we　drained　our　glasses。

Lupin　then　said：　　〃Fill　up　the　glasses　again；　for　I　have　some　good　and　unexpected　news　for　you。〃

I　had　some　slight　misgivings；　and　so　evidently　had　Carrie；　for　she　said：　　〃I　hope　we　shall　think　it　good　news。〃

Lupin　said：　　〃Oh；　it's　all　right！　　I'M　ENGAGED　TO　BE　MARRIED！〃



CHAPTER　VIII。



Daisy　Mutlar　sole　topic　of　conversation。　　Lupin's　new　berth。　Fireworks　at　the　Cummings'。　　The　〃Holloway　Comedians。〃　　Sarah　quarrels　with　the　charwoman。　　Lupin's　uncalled…for　interference。　Am　introduced　to　Daisy　Mutlar。　　We　decide　to　give　a　party　in　her　honour。


November　5；　Sunday。　…　Carrie　and　I　troubled　about　that　mere　boy　Lupin　getting　engaged　to　be　married　without　consulting　us　or　anything。　　After　dinner　he　told　us　all　about　it。　　He　said　the　lady's　name　was　Daisy　Mutlar；　and　she　was　the　nicest；　prettiest；　and　most　accomplished　girl　he　ever　met。　　He　loved　her　the　moment　he　saw　her；　and　if　he　had　to　wait　fifty　years　he　would　wait；　and　he　knew　she　would　wait　for　him。

Lupin　further　said；　with　much　warmth；　that　the　world　was　a　different　world　to　him　now；　…　it　was　a　world　worth　living　in。　　He　lived　with　an　object　now；　and　that　was　to　make　Daisy　Mutlar　…　Daisy　Pooter；　and　he　would　guarantee　she　would　not　disgrace　the　family　of　the　Pooters。　　Carrie　here　burst　out　crying；　and　threw　her　arms　round　his　neck；　and　in　doing　so；　upset　the　glass　of　port　he　held　in　his　hand　all　over　his　new　light　trousers。

I　said　I　had　no　doubt　we　should　like　Miss　Mutlar　when　we　saw　her；　but　Carrie　said　she　loved　her　already。　　I　thought　this　rather　premature；　but　held　my　tongue。　　Daisy　Mutlar　was　the　sole　topic　of　conversation　for　the　remainder　of　the　day。　　I　asked　Lupin　who　her　people　were；　and　he　replied：　　〃Oh；　you　know　Mutlar；　Williams　and　Watts。〃　　I　did　not　know；　but　refrained　from　asking　any　further　questions　at　present；　for　fear　of　irritating　Lupin。

November　6。　…　Lupin　went　with　me　to　the　office；　and　had　a　long　conversation　with　Mr。　Perkupp；　our　principal；　the　result　of　which　was　that　he　accepted　a　clerkship　in　the　firm　of　Job　Cleanands　and　Co。；　Stock　and　Share　Brokers。　　Lupin　told　me；　privately；　it　was　an　advertising　firm；　and　he　did　not　think　much　of　it。　　I　replied：　〃Beggars　should　not　be　choosers；〃　and　I　will　do　Lupin　the　justice　to　say；　he　looked　rather　ashamed　of　himself。

In　the　evening　we　went　round　to　the　Cummings'；　to　have　a　few　fireworks。　　It　began　to　rain；　and　I　thought　it　rather　dull。　　One　of　my　squibs　would　not　go　off；　and　Gowing　said：　　〃Hit　it　on　your　boot；　boy；　it　will　go　off　then。〃　　I　gave　it　a　few　knocks　on　the　end　of　my　boot；　and　it　went　off　with　one　loud　explosion；　and　burnt　my　fingers　rather　badly。　　I　gave　the　rest　of　the　squibs　to　the　little　Cummings'　boy　to　let　off。

Another　unfortunate　thing　happened；　which　brought　a　heap　of　abuse　on　my　head。　　Cummings　fastened　a　large　wheel　set…piece　on　a　stake　in　the　ground　by　way　of　a　grand　finale。　　He　made　a　great　fuss　about　it；　said　it　cost　seven　shillings。　　There　was　a　little　difficulty　in　getting　it　alight。　　At　last　it　went　off；　but　after　a　couple　of　slow　revolutions　it　stopped。　　I　had　my　stick　with　me；　so　I　gave　it　a　tap　to　send　it　round；　and；　unfortunately；　it　fell　off　the　stake　on　to　the　grass。　　Anybody　would　have　thought　I　had　set　the　house　on　fire　from　the　way　in　which　they　stormed　at　me。　　I　will　never　join　in　any　more　firework　parties。　　It　is　a　ridiculous　waste　of　time　and　money。

November　7。　…　Lupin　asked　Carrie　to　call　on　Mrs。　Mutlar；　but　Carrie　said　she　thought　Mrs。　Mutlar　ought　to　call　on　her　first。　　I　agreed　with　Carrie；　and　this　led　to　an　argument。　　However；　the　matter　was　settled　by　Carrie　saying　she　could　not　find　any　visiting　cards；　and　we　must　get　some　more　printed；　and　when　they　were　finished　would　be　quite　time　enough　to　discuss　the　etiquette　of　calling。

November　8。　…　I　ordered　some　of　our　cards　at　Black's；　the　stationers。　　I　ordered　twenty…five　of　each；　which　will　last　us　for　a　good　long　time。　　In　the　evening；　Lupin　brought　in　Harry　Mutlar；　Miss　Mutlar's　brother。　　He　was　rather　a　gawky　youth；　and　Lupin　said　he　was　the　most　popular　and　best　amateur　in　the　club；　referring　to　the　〃Holloway　Comedians。〃　　Lupin　whispered　to　us　that　if　we　could　only　〃draw　out〃　Harry　a　bit；　he　would　make　us　roar　with　laughter。

At　supper；　young　Mutlar　did　several　amusing　things。　　He　took　up　a　knife；　and　with　the　flat　part　of　it　played　a　tune　on　his　cheek　in　a　wonderful　manner。　　He　also　gave　an　imitation　of　an　old　man　with　no　teeth；　smoking　a　big　cigar。　　The　way　he　kept　dropping　the　cigar　sent　Carrie　into　fits。

In　the　course　of　conversation；　Daisy's　name　cropped　up；　and　young　Mutlar　said　he　would　bring　his　sister　round　to　us　one　evening　…　his　parents　being　rather　old…fashioned；　and　not　going　out　much。　　Carrie　said　we　would　get　up　a　little　special　party。　　As　young　Mutlar　showed　no　inclination　to　go；　and　it　was　approaching　eleven　o'clock；　as　a　hint　I　reminded　Lupin　that　he　had　to　be　up　early　to…morrow。　Instead　of　taking　the　hint；　Mutlar　began　a　series　of　comic　imitations。　　He　went　on　for　an　hour　without　cessation。　　Poor　Carrie　could　scarcely　keep　her　eyes　open。　　At　last　she　made　an　excuse；　and　said　〃Good…night。〃

Mutlar　then　left；　and　I　heard　him　and　Lupin　whispering　in　the　hall　something　about　the　〃Holloway　Comedians；〃　and　to　my　disgust；　although　it　was　past　midnight；　Lupin　put　on　his　hat　and　coat；　and　went　out　with　his　new　companion。

November　9。　…　My　endeavours　to　discover　who　tore　the　sheets　out　of　my　diary　still　fruitless。　　Lupin　has　Daisy　Mutlar　on　the　brain；　so　we　see　little　of　him；　except　that　he　invariably　turns　up　at　meal　times。　　Cummings　dropped　in。

November　10。　…　Lupin　seems　to　like　his　new　berth　…　that's　a　comfort。　　Daisy　Mutlar　the　sole　topic　of　conversation　during　tea。　Carrie　almost　as　full　of　it　as　Lupin。　　Lupin　informs　me；　to　my　disgust；　that　he　has　been　persuaded　to　take　part　in　the　forthcoming　performance　of　the　〃Holloway　Comedians。〃　　He　says　he　is　to　play　Bob　Britches　in　the　farce；　GONE　TO　MY　UNCLE'S；　Frank　Mutlar　is　going　to　play　old　Musty。　　I　told　Lupin　pretty　plainly　I　was　not　in　the　least　degree　interested　in　the　matter；　and　totally　disapproved　of　amateur　theatricals。　　Gowing　came　in　the　evening。

November　11。　…　Returned　home　to　find　the　house　in　a　most　disgraceful　uproar；　Carrie；　who　appeared　very　frightened；　was　standing　outside　her　bedroom；　while　Sarah　was　excited　and　crying。　Mrs。　Birrell　（the　charwoman）；　who　had　evidently　been　drinking；　was　shouting　at　the　top　of　her　voice　that　she　was　〃no　thief；　that　she　was　a　respectable　woman；　who　had　to　work　hard　for　her　living；　and　she　would　smack　anyone's　face　who　put　lies　into　her　mouth。〃　　Lupin；　whose　back　was　towards　me；　did　not　hear　me　come　in。　　He　was　standing　between　the　two　women；　and；　I　regret　to　say；　in　his　endeavour　to　act　as　peacemaker；　he　made　use　of　rather　strong　language　in　the　presence　of　his　mother；　and　I　was　just　in　time　to　hear　him　say：　　〃And　all　this　fuss　about　the　loss　of　a　few　pages　from　a　rotten　diary　that　wouldn't　fetch　three…halfpence　a　pound！〃　I　said；　quietly：　　〃Pardon　me；　Lupin；　that　is　a　matter　of　opinion；　and　as　I　am　master　of　this　house；　perhaps　you　will　allow　me　to　take　the　reins。〃

I　ascertained　that　the　cause　of　the　row　was；　that　Sarah　had　accused　Mrs。　Birrell　of　tearing　the　pages　out　of　my　diary　to　wrap　up　some　kitchen　fat　and　leavings　which　she　had　taken　out　of　the　house　last　week。　　Mrs。　Birrell　had　slapped　Sarah's　face；　and　said　she　had　taken　nothing　out　of　the　place；　as　there　was　〃never　no　leavings　to　take。〃　　I　ordered　Sarah　back　to　her　work；　and　requested　Mrs。　Birrell　to　go　home。　　When　I　entered　the　parlour　Lupin　was　kicking　his　legs　in　the　air；　and　roaring　with　laughter。

November　12；　Sunday。　…　Coming　home　from　church　Carrie　and　I　met　Lupin；　Daisy　Mutlar；　and　her　brother。　　Daisy　was　introduced　to　us；　and　we　walked　home　together；　Carrie　walking　on　with　Miss　Mutlar。　We　asked　them　in　for　a　few　minutes；　and　I　had　a　good　look　at　my　future　daughter…in…law。　　My　heart　quite　sank。　　She　is　a　big　young　woman；　and　I　should　think　at　least　eight　years　older　than　Lupin。　　I　did　not　even　think　her　good…looking。　　Carrie　asked　her　if　she　could　come　in　on　Wednesday　next　with　her　brother　to　meet　a　few　friends。　She　replied　that　she　would　only　be　too　pleased。

November　13。　…　Carrie　sent　out　invitations　to　Gowing；　the　Cummings；　to　Mr。　and　Mrs。　James　（of　Sutton）；　and　Mr。　Stillbrook。　　I　wrote　a　note　to　Mr。　Franching；　of　Peckham。　　Carrie　said　we　may　as　well　make　it　a　nice　affair；　and　why　not　ask　our　principal；　Mr。　Perkupp？　　I　said　I　feared　we　were　not　quite　gran