explain, and it was only on going to bed I discovered I must have
been walking about all the evening with an antimacassar 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 for Lupin.

August 29.--Mrs. James is making a positive fool of Carrie. Carrie
appeared in a new dress like a smock-frock. She said "smocking"
was all the 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, and both Lupin and I were somewhat pleased--the
first time we have agreed on a single subject since his return.
Merkins and Son write they have no vacancy for Lupin.

October 30.--I should very much like to know who has wilfully torn
the 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 my everyday events, and in keeping up that record
I take (with much pride) a great deal of pains.

I asked Carrie if she knew anything about it. She replied it was
my own fault for leaving the diary about with a charwoman cleaning
and the sweeps in the house. I said that was not an answer to my
question. This retort of mine, which I thought extremely smart,
would have been more effective had I not jogged my elbow against a
vase on a table temporarily placed in the passage, knocked it over,
and smashed it.