Дневник незначительного лица
Chapter 22
ButIwasentirelymistaken;for,onthesubjectbeingopenedagain,CummingssaidhewasmostinterestedinSpiritualism,althoughhewasboundtoconfesshedidnotbelievemuchinit;still,hewaswillingtobeconvinced.
Ifirmlydeclinedtotakeanypartinit,withtheresultthatmypresencewasignored.Ileftthethreesittingintheparlouratasmallroundtablewhichtheyhadtakenoutofthedrawing-room.Iwalkedintothehallwiththeultimateintentionoftakingalittlestroll.AsIopenedthedoor,whoshouldcomeinbutGowing!
Onhearingwhatwasgoingon,heproposedthatweshouldjointhecircleandhewouldgointoatrance.HeaddedthatheknewafewthingsaboutoldCummings,andwouldinventafewaboutMrs.James.KnowinghowdangerousGowingis,Ideclinedtolethimtakepartinanysuchfoolishperformance.Sarahaskedmeifshecouldgooutforhalfanhour,andIgaveherpermission,thinkingitwouldbemorecomfortabletositwithGowinginthekitchenthaninthecolddrawing-room.WetalkedagooddealaboutLupinandMr.andMrs.MurrayPosh,withwhomheisasusualspendingtheevening.Gowingsaid:“Isay,itwouldn’tbeabadthingforLupinifoldPoshkickedthebucket.”
Myheartgavealeapofhorror,andIrebukedGowingverysternlyforjokingonsuchasubject.Ilayawakehalfthenightthinkingofit—theotherhalfwasspentinnightmaresonthesamesubject.
May31.—Iwroteasternlettertothelaundress.Iwasratherpleasedwiththeletter,forIthoughtitverysatirical.
