2011年1月9日星期日

Retired tired

I said I was determined to find out who did it, whereupon she said she would do her best to help me; but she remembered she sweep lighting the fire with a bit of the echo, I requested the sweep to be sent to me tomorrow. I wish Carrie had not given Lupin a latch-key; we never seem to see anything of him. I sat up till past one for him, and then retired tired.

My entry yesterday about "retired tried," which I did not notice at the time, is rather funny. If I were not so sweep called, but had the audacity to come up to the hall-door and lean his dirty bag of soot on the door -step. He, however was so polite, I could not rebuke him. He said Sarah lighted the fire. Unfortunately, Sarah heard this, for she was dusting the banisters, and she randown, and flew into a temper with the sweep, causing a row on the front of door-steps, which I would not have had happen for anything. I ordered her about her business, and told the sweep I was sorry to have troubled him; and so I was, for the door-steps were covered with soot in consequence of his visit. I would willingly give ten shilings to find out who tore my diary.

2011年1月7日星期五

Loss of a portion of my diary

Carrie was dreadfully upset at this disaster, for it was one of a pair of vases which cannot be matched, given to us on our wedding-day by Mrs. Burtsett, an old friend of Carrie's cousins, the Pommertons, late of Dalston. I called to Sarah, and asked her about the diary. She said she had not been in the sitting-room at all; after the sweep had left, Mrs. Birrell (the charwoman) had cleaned the room and lighted the fire herself. Finding a burnt piece of paper in the grate, I examined it, and fount it was a piece of my diary. So it was evident some one had torn my diary to light the fire. I requested Mrs. Birrell to be sent to me tomorrow.

Received a letter from our principal, Mr. Perkupp, saying that he thinks he knows of a place at last for our dear boy Lupin. This, in a messure, consoles me for the loss of a portion of my diary; for I am bound to confess the last few weeks have been devoted to the record of disappointing answers received from people to whom I have applied for appointments for Lupin. Mrs. Birrell called, and, in reply to me, said:" She never see no book, much less take such at liberty as touch it."

2011年1月5日星期三

Pattles and Pattles

Found a large brick in the middle bed of garaniums, evidently come from next door. Pattles and Pattless can't find a place for Lupin.

Mrs. James is making a positive fool for Carrie. Carrie appeared in a new dress like a smock-frock. She said "smocking" was all the rage. I replied it put me in a rages. She also had on a hat as big as a kitchen coal-scuttle, and the same shape. Mrs. James went home, and both Lupin and I were somewhat pleased - the first time we have agreed on a single subject since his return. Merkins and Son write they have no vacancy for Lupin.

I should very much like to know who has wilfully torn the last five or six weeks out of my diary, with plenty of space for the record of my everyday events, and in keeping up that record I take a great deal of pains.

I asked carrie if she knew anything about it. She replied it was my own fault for leaving the diary about with a charwoman cleaning and the sweeps in the house. I said that was not an answer to my question. This retort of mine, which I thought extremely smart, would have been more effective had I not jogged my elbow against a vase on a table temporarily placed in the passage, knocked it over, and smashed it.