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           Oncewehadaratherheateddiscussion,whichwascommencedbyCummingssayingthatitappearedtohimthatMr.Burwin–FosseltonwasnotonlylikeMr.Irving,butwasinhisjudgmenteverywayasgoodorevenbetter.Iventuredtoremarkthatafterallitwasbutanimitationofanoriginal.

           Cummingssaidsurelysomeimitationswerebetterthantheoriginals.ImadewhatIconsideredaverycleverremark:“Withoutanoriginaltherecanbenoimitation.”Mr.Burwin–Fosseltonsaidquiteimpertinently:“Don’tdiscussmeinmypresence,ifyouplease;and,Mr.Pooter,Ishouldadviseyoutotalkaboutwhatyouunderstand;”towhichthatcadPadgereplied:“That’sright.”DearCarriesavedthewholethingbysuddenlysaying:“I’llbeEllenTerry.”DearCarrie’simitationwasn’tabitliked,butshewassospontaneousandsofunnythatthedisagreeablediscussionpassedoff.Whentheyleft,IverypointedlysaidtoMr.Burwin–FosseltonandMr.Padgethatweshouldbeengagedtomorrowevening.

           November25.—HadalongletterfromMr.Fosseltonrespectinglastnight’sIrvingdiscussion.Iwasveryangry,andIwroteandsaidIknewlittleornothingaboutstagematters,wasnotintheleastinterestedinthemandpositivelydeclinedtobedrawnintoadiscussiononthesubject,evenattheriskofitsleadingtoabreachoffriendship.Ineverwroteamoredeterminedletter.

           OnreturninghomeattheusualhouronSaturdayafternoonImetneartheArchwayDaisyMutlar.Myheartgavealeap.