the diary of a nobody-第7章

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im；　and　said　it　was　a　robbery。　　He　said：　　〃If　you　wanted　your　shirt…fronts　made　out　of　pauper…linen；　such　as　is　used　for　packing　and　bookbinding；　why　didn't　you　say　so？〃

June　7。　…　A　dreadful　annoyance。　　Met　Mr。　Franching；　who　lives　at　Peckham；　and　who　is　a　great　swell　in　his　way。　　I　ventured　to　ask　him　to　come　home　to　meat…tea；　and　take　pot…luck。　　I　did　not　think　he　would　accept　such　a　humble　invitation；　but　he　did；　saying；　in　a　most　friendly　way；　he　would　rather　〃peck〃　with　us　than　by　himself。　I　said：　　〃We　had　better　get　into　this　blue　'bus。〃　　He　replied：　　〃No　blue…bussing　for　me。　　I　have　had　enough　of　the　blues　lately。　　I　lost　a　cool　'thou'　over　the　Copper　Scare。　　Step　in　here。〃

We　drove　up　home　in　style；　in　a　hansom…cab；　and　I　knocked　three　times　at　the　front　door　without　getting　an　answer。　　I　saw　Carrie；　through　the　panels　of　ground…glass　（with　stars）；　rushing　upstairs。　I　told　Mr。　Franching　to　wait　at　the　door　while　I　went　round　to　the　side。　　There　I　saw　the　grocer's　boy　actually　picking　off　the　paint　on　the　door；　which　had　formed　into　blisters。　　No　time　to　reprove　him；　so　went　round　and　effected　an　entrance　through　the　kitchen　window。　　I　let　in　Mr。　Franching；　and　showed　him　into　the　drawing…　room。　　I　went　upstairs　to　Carrie；　who　was　changing　her　dress；　and　told　her　I　had　persuaded　Mr。　Franching　to　come　home。　　She　replied：　〃How　can　you　do　such　a　thing？　　You　know　it's　Sarah's　holiday；　and　there's　not　a　thing　in　the　house；　the　cold　mutton　having　turned　with　the　hot　weather。〃

Eventually　Carrie；　like　a　good　creature　as　she　is；　slipped　down；　washed　up　the　teacups；　and　laid　the　cloth；　and　I　gave　Franching　our　views　of　Japan　to　look　at　while　I　ran　round　to　the　butcher's　to　get　three　chops。

July　30。　…　The　miserable　cold　weather　is　either　upsetting　me　or　Carrie；　or　both。　　We　seem　to　break　out　into　an　argument　about　absolutely　nothing；　and　this　unpleasant　state　of　things　usually　occurs　at　meal…times。

This　morning；　for　some　unaccountable　reason；　we　were　talking　about　balloons；　and　we　were　as　merry　as　possible；　but　the　conversation　drifted　into　family　matters；　during　which　Carrie；　without　the　slightest　reason；　referred　in　the　most　uncomplimentary　manner　to　my　poor　father's　pecuniary　trouble。　　I　retorted　by　saying　that　〃Pa；　at　all　events；　was　a　gentleman；〃　whereupon　Carrie　burst　out　crying。　　I　positively　could　not　eat　any　breakfast。

At　the　office　I　was　sent　for　by　Mr。　Perkupp；　who　said　he　was　very　sorry；　but　I　should　have　to　take　my　annual　holidays　from　next　Saturday。　　Franching　called　at　office　and　asked　me　to　dine　at　his　club；　〃The　Constitutional。〃　　Fearing　disagreeables　at　home　after　the　〃tiff〃　this　morning；　I　sent　a　telegram　to　Carrie；　telling　her　I　was　going　out　to　dine　and　she　was　not　to　sit　up。　　Bought　a　little　silver　bangle　for　Carrie。

July　31。　…　Carrie　was　very　pleased　with　the　bangle；　which　I　left　with　an　affectionate　note　on　her　dressing…table　last　night　before　going　to　bed。　　I　told　Carrie　we　should　have　to　start　for　our　holiday　next　Saturday。　　She　replied　quite　happily　that　she　did　not　mind；　except　that　the　weather　was　so　bad；　and　she　feared　that　Miss　Jibbons　would　not　be　able　to　get　her　a　seaside　dress　in　time。　　I　told　Carrie　that　I　thought　the　drab　one　with　pink　bows　looked　quite　good　enough；　and　Carrie　said　she　should　not　think　of　wearing　it。　　I　was　about　to　discuss　the　matter；　when；　remembering　the　argument　yesterday；　resolved　to　hold　my　tongue。

I　said　to　Carrie：　　〃I　don't　think　we　can　do　better　than　'Good　old　Broadstairs。'〃　　Carrie　not　only；　to　my　astonishment；　raised　an　objection　to　Broadstairs；　for　the　first　time；　but　begged　me　not　to　use　the　expression；　〃Good　old；〃　but　to　leave　it　to　Mr。　Stillbrook　and　other　GENTLEMEN　of　his　type。　　Hearing　my　'bus　pass　the　window；　I　was　obliged　to　rush　out　of　the　house　without　kissing　Carrie　as　usual；　and　I　shouted　to　her：　　〃I　leave　it　to　you　to　decide。〃　　On　returning　in　the　evening；　Carrie　said　she　thought　as　the　time　was　so　short　she　had　decided　on　Broadstairs；　and　had　written　to　Mrs。　Beck；　Harbour　View　Terrace；　for　apartments。

August　1。　…　Ordered　a　new　pair　of　trousers　at　Edwards's；　and　told　them　not　to　cut　them　so　loose　over　the　boot；　the　last　pair　being　so　loose　and　also　tight　at　the　knee；　looked　like　a　sailor's；　and　I　heard　Pitt；　that　objectionable　youth　at　the　office；　call　out　〃Hornpipe〃　as　I　passed　his　desk。　　Carrie　has　ordered　of　Miss　Jibbons　a　pink　Garibaldi　and　blue…serge　skirt；　which　I　always　think　looks　so　pretty　at　the　seaside。　　In　the　evening　she　trimmed　herself　a　little　sailor…hat；　while　I　read　to　her　the　EXCHANGE　AND　MART。　　We　had　a　good　laugh　over　my　trying　on　the　hat　when　she　had　finished　it；　Carrie　saying　it　looked　so　funny　with　my　beard；　and　how　the　people　would　have　roared　if　I　went　on　the　stage　like　it。

August　2。　…　Mrs。　Beck　wrote　to　say　we　could　have　our　usual　rooms　at　Broadstairs。　　That's　off　our　mind。　　Bought　a　coloured　shirt　and　a　pair　of　tan…coloured　boots；　which　I　see　many　of　the　swell　clerks　wearing　in　the　City；　and　hear　are　all　the　〃go。〃

August　3。　…　A　beautiful　day。　　Looking　forward　to　to…morrow。　　Carrie　bought　a　parasol　about　five　feet　long。　　I　told　her　it　was　ridiculous。　　She　said：　　〃Mrs。　James；　of　Sutton；　has　one　twice　as　long　so；〃　the　matter　dropped。　　I　bought　a　capital　hat　for　hot　weather　at　the　seaside。　　I　don't　know　what　it　is　called；　but　it　is　the　shape　of　the　helmet　worn　in　India；　only　made　of　straw。　　Got　three　new　ties；　two　coloured　handkerchiefs；　and　a　pair　of　navy…blue　socks　at　Pope　Brothers。　　Spent　the　evening　packing。　　Carrie　told　me　not　to　forget　to　borrow　Mr。　Higgsworth's　telescope；　which　he　always　lends　me；　knowing　I　know　how　to　take　care　of　it。　　Sent　Sarah　out　for　it。　　While　everything　was　seeming　so　bright；　the　last　post　brought　us　a　letter　from　Mrs。　Beck；　saying：　　〃I　have　just　let　all　my　house　to　one　party；　and　am　sorry　I　must　take　back　my　words；　and　am　sorry　you　must　find　other　apartments；　but　Mrs。　Womming；　next　door；　will　be　pleased　to　accommodate　you；　but　she　cannot　take　you　before　Monday；　as　her　rooms　are　engaged　Bank　Holiday　week。〃



CHAPTER　VI。



The　Unexpected　Arrival　Home　of　our　Son；　Willie　Lupin　Pooter。


August　4。　…　The　first　post　brought　a　nice　letter　from　our　dear　son　Willie；　acknowledging　a　trifling　present　which　Carrie　sent　him；　the　day　before　yesterday　being　his　twentieth　birthday。　　To　our　utter　amazement　he　turned　up　himself　in　the　afternoon；　having　journeyed　all　the　way　from　Oldham。　　He　said　he　had　got　leave　from　the　bank；　and　as　Monday　was　a　holiday　he　thought　he　would　give　us　a　little　surprise。

August　5；　Sunday。　…　We　have　not　seen　Willie　since　last　Christmas；　and　are　pleased　to　notice　what　a　fine　young　man　he　has　grown。　　One　would　scarcely　believe　he　was　Carrie's　son。　　He　looks　more　like　a　younger　brother。　　I　rather　disapprove　of　his　wearing　a　check　suit　on　a　Sunday；　and　I　think　he　ought　to　have　gone　to　church　this　morning；　but　he　said　he　was　tired　after　yesterday's　journey；　so　I　refrained　from　any　remark　on　the　subject。　　We　had　a　bottle　of　port　for　dinner；　and　drank　dear　Willie's　health。

He　said：　　〃Oh；　by…the…by；　did　I　tell　you　I've　cut　my　first　name；　'William；'　and　taken　the　second　name　'Lupin'？　　In　fact；　I'm　only　known　at　Oldham　as　'Lupin　Pooter。'　　If　you　were　to　'Willie'　me　there；　they　wouldn't　know　what　you　meant。〃

Of　course；　Lupin　being　a　purely　family　name；　Carrie　was　delighted；　and　began　by　giving　a　long　history　of　the　Lupins。　　I　ventured　to　say　that　I　thought　William　a　nice　simple　name；　and　reminded　him　he　was　christened　after　his　Uncle　William；　who　was　much　respected　in　the　City。　　Willie；　in　a　manner　which　I　did　not　much　care　for；　said　sneeringly：　　〃Oh；　I　know　all　about　that　…　Good　old　Bill！〃　and　helped　himself　to　a　third　glass　of　port。

Carrie　objected　strongly　to　my　saying　〃Good　old；〃　but　she　made　no　remark　when　Willie　used　the　double　adjective。　　I　said　nothing；　but　looked　at　her；　which　meant　more。　　I　said：　　〃My　dear　Willie；　I　hope　you　are　happy　with　your　colleagues　at　the　Bank。〃　　He　replied：　〃Lupin；　if　you　please；　and　with　respect　to　the　Bank；　there's　not　a　clerk　who　is　a　gentleman；　and　the　'boss'　is　a　cad。〃　　I　felt　so　shocked；　I　could　say　nothing；　and　my　instinct　told　me　there　was　something　wrong。

August　6；　Bank　Holiday。　…　As　there　was　no　sign　of　Lu