Home again. Mrs. James' influence on Carrie. Can get nothing forLupin. Next-door neighbours are a little troublesome. Some onetampers with my diary. Got a place for Lupin. Lupin startles us with anannouncement.

　　August 22. - Home sweet Home again! Carrie bought some prettyblue-wool mats to stand vases on. Fripps, Janus and Co. write to saythey are sorry they have no vacancy among their staff of clerks for Lupin.

　　August 23. - I bought a pair of stags' heads made of plaster-of- Parisand coloured brown. They will look just the thing for our little hall, andgive it style; the heads are excellent imitations. Poolers and Smith aresorry they have nothing to offer Lupin.

　　August 24. - Simply to please Lupin, and make things cheerful for him,as he is a little down, Carrie invited Mrs. James to come up from Suttonand spend two or three days with us. We have not said a word to Lupin,but mean to keep it as a surprise.

　　August 25. - Mrs. James, of Sutton, arrived in the afternoon, bringingwith her an enormous bunch of wild flowers. The more I see of MrsJames the nicer I think she is, and she is devoted to Carrie. She went intoCarrie's room to take off her bonnet, and remained there nearly an hourtalking about dress. Lupin said he was not a bit surprised at Mrs. James'

　　VISIT, but was surprised at HER.

　　August 26, Sunday. - Nearly late for church, Mrs. James having talkedconsiderably about what to wear all the morning. Lupin does not seem toget on very well with Mrs. James. I am afraid we shall have sometrouble with our next-door neighbours who came in last Wednesday.

　　Several of their friends, who drive up in dog-carts, have already madethemselves objectionable.

　　An evening or two ago I had put on a white waistcoat for coolness, andwhile walking past with my thumbs in my waistcoat pockets (a habit Ihave), one man, seated in the cart, and looking like an American, commenced singing some vulgar nonsense about "I HAD THIRTEENDOLLARS IN MY WAISTCOAT POCKET." I fancied it was meant forme, and my suspicions were confirmed; for while walking round thegarden in my tall hat this afternoon, a "throw-down" cracker wasdeliberately aimed at my hat, and exploded on it like a percussion cap.

　　turned sharply, and am positive I saw the man who was in the cartretreating from one of the bedroom windows.

　　August 27. -Carrie and Mrs. James went off shopping, and had notreturned when I came back from the office. Judging from the subsequentconversation, I am afraid Mrs. James is filling Carrie's head with a lot ofnonsense about dress. I walked over to Gowing's and asked him to dropin to supper, and make things pleasant.

　　Carrie prepared a little extemporised supper, consisting of theremainder of the cold joint, a small piece of salmon (which I was to refuse,in case there was not enough to go round), and a blanc- mange andcustards. There was also a decanter of port and some jam puffs on thesideboard. Mrs. James made us play rather a good game of cards, called"Muggings." To my surprise, in fact disgust, Lupin got up in the middle,and, in a most sarcastic tone, said: "Pardon me, this sort of thing is too fastfor me, I shall go and enjoy a quiet game of marbles in the back-garden."Things might have become rather disagreeable but for Gowing (whoseems to have taken to Lupin) suggesting they should invent games. Lupinsaid: "Let's play 'monkeys.'" He then led Gowing all round the room,and brought him in front of the looking-glass. I must confess I laughedheartily at this. I was a little vexed at everybody subsequently laughingat some joke which they did not explain, and it was only on going to bed Idiscovered I must have been walking about all the evening with anantimacassar on one button of my coat-tails.

　　August 28. -Found a large brick in the middle bed of geraniums,evidently come from next door. Pattles and Pattles can't find a place forLupin.

　　August 29. - Mrs. James is making a positive fool of Carrie. Carrieappeared in a new dress like a smock-frock. She said "smocking" was allthe rage. I replied it put me in a rage. She also had on a hat as big as a kitchen coal-scuttle, and the same shape. Mrs. James went home, andboth Lupin and I were somewhat pleased - the first time we have agreedon a single subject since his return. Merkins and Son write they have novacancy for Lupin.

　　October 30. - I should very much like to know who has wilfully tornthe last five or six weeks out of my diary. It is perfectly monstrous!

　　Mine is a large scribbling diary, with plenty of space for the record of myeveryday events, and in keeping up that record I take (with much pride) agreat dea............