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           UnfortunatelyIdidnotexaminethemall,andwhenIgothomeIdiscoveredavulgarcardwithapictureofafatnursewithtwobabies,oneblackandtheotherwhite,andthewords:“WewishPaaMerryChristmas.”Itoreupthecardandthrewitaway.CarriesaidthegreatdisadvantageofgoingoutinSocietyandincreasingthenumberofourfriendswas,thatweshouldhavetosendoutnearlytwodozencardsthisyear.

           December21.—TosavethepostmanamiserableChristmas,wefollowtheexampleofallunselfishpeople,andsendoutourcardsearly.Mostofthecardshadfinger-marks,whichIdidnotnoticeatnight.Ishallbuyallfuturecardsinthedaytime.Lupin(who,eversincehehashadtheappointmentwithastockandsharebroker,doesnotseemover-scrupulousinhisdealings)toldmenevertoruboutthepencilledpriceonthebacksofthecards.Iaskedhimwhy.Lupinsaid:“Supposeyourcardismarked9d.Well,allyouhavetodoistopencila3—andalongdown-strokeafterit—infrontoftheninepence,andpeoplewillthinkyouhavegivenfivetimesthepriceforit.”

           IntheeveningLupinwasverylow-spirited,andIremindedhimthatbehindthecloudsthesunwasshining.Hesaid:“Ugh!itnevershinesonme.”Isaid:“Stop,Lupin,myboy;youareworriedaboutDaisyMutlar.Don’tthinkofheranymore.Yououghttocongratulateyourselfonhavinggotoffaverybadbargain.Hernotionsarefartoograndforoursimpletastes.”Hejumpedupandsaid:“Iwon’tallowonewordtobeutteredagainsther