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           Hewasstandingbetweenthetwowomen,and,Iregrettosay,inhisendeavourtoactaspeacemaker,hemadeuseofratherstronglanguageinthepresenceofhismother;andIwasjustintimetohearhimsay:“Andallthisfussaboutthelossofafewpagesfromarottendiarythatwouldn’tfetchthree-halfpenceapound!”Isaid,quietly:“Pardonme,Lupin,thatisamatterofopinion;andasIammasterofthishouse,perhapsyouwillallowmetotakethereins.”

           Iascertainedthatthecauseoftherowwas,thatSarahhadaccusedMrs.Birrelloftearingthepagesoutofmydiarytowrapupsomekitchenfatandleavingswhichshehadtakenoutofthehouselastweek.Mrs.BirrellhadslappedSarah’sface,andsaidshehadtakennothingoutoftheplace,astherewas“nevernoleavingstotake.”IorderedSarahbacktoherwork,andrequestedMrs.Birrelltogohome.WhenIenteredtheparlourLupinwaskickinghislegsintheair,androaringwithlaughter.

           November12,Sunday.—CominghomefromchurchCarrieandImetLupin,DaisyMutlar,andherbrother.Daisywasintroducedtous,andwewalkedhometogether,CarriewalkingonwithMissMutlar.Weaskedtheminforafewminutes,andIhadagoodlookatmyfuturedaughter-inlaw.Myheartquitesank.Sheisabigyoungwoman,andIshouldthinkatleasteightyearsolderthanLupin.Ididnoteventhinkhergood-looking.CarrieaskedherifshecouldcomeinonWednesdaynextwithherbrothertomeetafewfriends.Sherepliedthatshewouldonlybetoopleased.

           November13.