Daisy Mutlar sole topic of conversation. Lupin's new berth.
Fireworks at the Cummings'. The "Holloway Comedians." Sarahquarrels with the charwoman. Lupin's uncalled-for interference. Amintroduced to Daisy Mutlar. We decide to give a party in her honour.
November 5, Sunday. - Carrie and I troubled about that mere boyLupin getting engaged to be married without consulting us or anything.
After dinner he told us all about it. He said the lady's name was DaisyMutlar, and she was the nicest, prettiest, and most accomplished girl heever met. He loved her the moment he saw her, and if he had to waitfifty years he would wait, and he knew she would wait for him.
Lupin further said, with much warmth, that the world was a differentworld to him now, - it was a world worth living in. He lived with anobject now, and that was to make Daisy Mutlar - Daisy Pooter, and hewould guarantee she would not disgrace the family of the Pooters. Carriehere burst out crying, and threw her arms round his neck, and in doing so,upset the glass of port he held in his hand all over his new light trousers.
I said I had no doubt we should like Miss Mutlar when we saw her, butCarrie said she loved her already. I thought this rather premature, butheld my tongue. Daisy Mutlar was the sole topic of conversation for theremainder of the day. I asked Lupin who her people were, and he replied:
"Oh, you know Mutlar, Williams and Watts." I did not know, butrefrained from asking any further questions at present, for fear of irritatingLupin.
November 6. - Lupin went with me to the office, and had a longconversation with Mr. Perkupp, our principal, the result of which was thathe accepted a clerkship in the firm of Job Cleanands and Co., Stock andShare Brokers. Lupin told me, privately, it was an advertising firm, andhe did not think much of it. I replied: "Beggars should not be choosers;"and I will do Lupin the justice to say, he looked rather ashamed of himself.
In the evening we went round to the Cummings', to have a few fireworks. It began to rain, and I thought it rather dull. One of mysquibs would not go off, and Gowing said: "Hit it on your boot, boy; itwill go off then." I gave it a few knocks on the end of my boot, and itwent off with one loud explosion, and burnt my fingers rather badly.
gave the rest of the squibs to the little Cummings' boy to let off.
Another unfortunate thing happened, which brought a heap of abuseon my head. Cummings fastened a large wheel set-piece on a stake in theground by way of a grand finale. He made a great fuss about it; said itcost seven shillings. There was a little difficulty in getting it alight. Atlast it went off; but after a couple of slow revolutions it stopped. I hadmy stick with me, so I gave it a tap to send it round, and, unfortunately, itfell off the stake on to the grass. Anybody would have thought I had setthe house on fire from the way in which they stormed at me. I will neverjoin in any more firework parties. It is a ridiculous waste of time andmoney.
November 7. - Lupin asked Carrie to call on Mrs. Mutlar, but Carriesaid she thought Mrs. Mutlar ought to call on her first. I agreed withCarrie, and this led to an argument. However, the matter was settled byCarrie saying she could not find any visiting cards, and we must get somemore printed, and when they were finished would be quite time enough todiscuss the etiquette of calling.
November 8. - I ordered some of our cards at Black's, the stationers.
I ordered twenty-five of each, which will last us for a good long time. Inthe evening, Lupin brought in Harry Mutlar, Miss Mutlar's brother. Hewas rather a gawky youth, and Lupin said he was the most popular andbest amateur in the club, referring to the "Holloway Comedians." Lupinwhispered to us that if we could only "draw out" Harry a bit, he wouldmake us roar with laughter.
At supper, young Mutlar did several amusing things. He took up aknife, and with the flat part of it played a tune on his cheek in a wonderfulmanner. He also gave an imitation of an old man with no teeth, smokinga big cigar. The way he kept dropping the cigar sent Carrie into fits.
In the course of conversation, Daisy's name cropped up, and youngMutlar said he would bring his sister round to us one evening - his parents being rather old-fashioned, and not going out much. Carrie said wewould get up a little special party. As young Mutlar showed noinclination to go, and it was approaching eleven o'clock, as a hint Ireminded Lupin that he had to be up early to-morrow. Instead of taking thehint, Mutlar began a series of comic imitations. He went on for an hourwithout cessation. Poor Carrie could scarcely keep her eyes open. Atlast she made an excuse, and said "Good-night."Mutlar then left, and I heard him and Lupin whispering in the hallsomething about the "Holloway Comedians," and to my disgust, althoughit was past midnight, Lupin put on his hat and coat, and went out with hisnew companion.
November 9. - My endeavours to discover who tore the sheets out ofmy diary still fruitless. Lupin has Daisy Mutlar on the brain, so we seelittle of him, except that he invariably turns up at meal times. Cummingsdropped in.
