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Chapter 10
Hesaiditwasthebestpartyhehadbeentoformanyayear;buthewishedwehadlethimknowitwasfulldress,ashewouldhaveturnedupinhisswallow-tails.Wesatdowntoaquietgameofdominoes,andwereinterruptedbythenoisyentranceofLupinandFrankMutlar.CummingsandIaskedthemtojoinus.Lupinsaidhedidnotcarefordominoes,andsuggestedagameof“Spoof.”Onmyaskingifitrequiredcounters,FrankandLupininmeasuredtimesaid:“One,two,three;go!HaveyouanestateinGreenland?”ItwassimplyGreektome,butitappearsitisoneofthecustomsofthe“HollowayComedians”todothiswhenamemberdisplaysignorance.
Inspiteofmyinstructions,thatblanc-mangewasbroughtupagainforsupper.Tomakemattersworse,therehadbeenanattempttodisguiseit,byplacingitinaglassdishwithjamroundit.CarrieaskedLupinifhewouldhavesome,andhereplied:“Nosecond-handgoodsforme,thankyou.”ItoldCarrie,whenwewerealone,ifthatblanc-mangewereplacedonthetableagainIshouldwalkoutofthehouse.
November19,Sunday.—Adelightfullyquietday.IntheafternoonLupinwasofftospendtherestofthedaywiththeMutlars.Hedepartedinthebestofspirits,andCarriesaid:“Well,oneadvantageofLupin’sengagementwithDaisyisthattheboyseemshappyalldaylong.ThatquitereconcilesmetowhatImustconfessseemsanimprudentengagement.”
CarrieandItalkedthematteroverduringtheevening,andagreedthatitdidnotalwaysfollowthatanearlyengagementmeantanunhappymarriage