A serious discussion concerning the use and value of my diary. Lupin'sopinion of 'Xmas. Lupin's unfortunate engagement is on again.

　　December 17. - As I open my scribbling diary I find the words"Oxford Michaelmas Term ends." Why this should induce me to indulgein retrospective I don't know, but it does. The last few weeks of my diaryare of minimum interest. The breaking off of the engagement betweenLupin and Daisy Mutlar has made him a different being, and Carrie arather depressing companion. She was a little dull last Saturday, and Ithought to cheer her up by reading some extracts from my diary; but shewalked out of the room in the middle of the reading, without a word. Onher return, I said: "Did my diary bore you, darling?"She replied, to my surprise: "I really wasn't listening, dear. I wasobliged to leave to give instructions to the laundress. In consequence ofsome stuff she puts in the water, two more of Lupin's coloured shirts haverun and he says he won't wear them."I said: "Everything is Lupin. It's all Lupin, Lupin, Lupin. Therewas not a single button on my shirt yesterday, but I made no complaint."Carrie simply replied: "You should do as all other men do, and wearstuds. In fact, I never saw anyone but you wear buttons on the shirt-fronts."I said: "I certainly wore none yesterday, for there were none on."Another thought that strikes me is that Gowing seldom calls in theevening, and Cummings never does. I fear they don't get on well withLupin.

　　December 18. - Yesterday I was in a retrospective vein - to-day it isPROSPECTIVE. I see nothing but clouds, clouds, clouds. Lupin isperfectly intolerable over the Daisy Mutlar business. He won't say whatis the cause of the breach. He is evidently condemning her conduct, andyet, if we venture to agree with him, says he won't hear a word against her.

　　So what is one to do? Another thing which is disappointing to me is, that Carrie and Lupin take no interest whatever in my diary.

　　I broached the subject at the breakfast-table to-day. I said: "I was inhopes that, if anything ever happened to me, the diary would be an endlesssource of pleasure to you both; to say nothing of the chance of theremuneration which may accrue from its being published."Both Carrie and Lupin burst out laughing. Carrie was sorry for this, Icould see, for she said: "I did not mean to be rude, dear Charlie; but trulyI do not think your diary would sufficiently interest the public to be takenup by a publisher."I replied: "I am sure it would prove quite as interesting as some ofthe ridiculous reminiscences that have been published lately. Besides, it'sthe diary that makes the man. Where would Evelyn and Pepys have beenif it had not been for their diaries?"Carrie said I was quite a philosopher; but Lupin, in a jeering tone, said:

　　"If it had been written on larger paper, Guv., we might get a fair price froma butterman for it."As I am in the prospective vein, I vow the end of this year will see theend of my diary.

　　December 19. - The annual invitation came to spend Christmas withCarrie's mother - the usual family festive gathering to which we alwayslook forward. Lupin declined to go. I was astounded, and expressedmy surprise and disgust. Lupin then obliged us with the followingRadical speech: "I hate a family gathering at Christmas. What does itmean? Why someone says: 'Ah! we miss poor Uncle James, who washere last year,' and we all begin to snivel. Someone e............