George Grossmith - The Diary of a Nobody

Mr Franching, of Peckham

absolutely nothing, and this unpleasant state of things usually occurs at meal-times.

This morning, for some unaccountable reason, we were talking about balloons, and we were as merry as possible; but the conversation drifted into family matters, during which Carrie, without the slightest reason, referred in the most uncomplimentary manner to my poor father’s pecuniary trouble. I retorted by saying that ‘Pa, at all events, was a gentleman,’ whereupon Carrie burst out crying. I positively could not eat any breakfast.

At the office I was sent for by Mr Perkupp, who said he was very sorry, but I should have to take my annual holidays from next Saturday. Franching called at office and asked me to dine at his club,

The grocer’s boy was actually picking off the paint on the side door, which had formed into blisters

‘The Constitutional’. Fearing disagreeables at home after the ‘tiff’ this morning, I sent a telegram to Carrie, telling her I was going out to dine and she was not to sit up. Bought a little silver bangle for Carrie.

JULY 31. Carrie was very pleased with the bangle, which I left with an affectionate note on her dressing-table last night before going to bed. I told Carrie we should have to start for our holiday next Saturday. She replied quite happily that she did not mind, except that the weather was so bad, and she feared that Miss Jibbons would not be able to get her a seaside dress in time. I told Carrie that I thought the drab one with pink bows looked quite good enough; and Carrie said she should not think of wearing it. I was about to discuss the matter, when, remembering the argument yesterday, resolved to hold my tongue.

I said to Carrie: ‘I don’t think we can do better than “Good old Broadstairs” 45 45 (July 31) “ Good old Broadstairs ”: Broadstairs, on the Kent coast, 60 miles east of London, has traditionally been quiet and genteel, especially compared to nearby Margate, the main Kentish resort, which even then was considered a touch vulgar. When the Pooters eventually get to Broadstairs (Chapter VI) Pooter wears a frock coat with a straw helmet, much to Lupin’s embarrassment. .’ Carrie not only, to my astonishment, raised an objection to Broadstairs, for the first time, but begged me not to use the expression, ‘Good old’, but to leave it to Mr Stillbrook and other gentlemen of his type. Hearing my ’bus pass the window, I was obliged to rush out of the house without kissing Carrie as usual; and I shouted to her: ‘I leave it to you to decide.’ On returning in the evening, Carrie said she thought as the time was so short she had decided on Broadstairs, and had written to Mrs Beck, Harbour View Terrace, for apartments.

AUGUST 1. Ordered a new pair of trousers at Edwards’s, and told them not to cut them so loose over the boot; the last pair being so loose and also tight at the knee, looked like a sailor’s, and I heard Pitt, that objectionable youth at the office, call out ‘Hornpipe’ as I passed his desk. Carrie has ordered of Miss Jibbons a pink Garibaldi and blue-serge skirt, which I always think looks so pretty at the seaside. In the evening she trimmed herself a little sailor-hat, while I read to her the Exchange and Mart . We had a good laugh over my trying on the hat when she had finished it; Carrie saying it looked so funny with my beard, and how the people would have roared if I went on the stage like it.

AUGUST 2. Mrs Beck wrote to say we could have our usual rooms at Broadstairs. That’s off our mind. Bought a coloured shirt and a

Young Pitt called out ‘Hornpipe’ as I passed his desk

pair of tan-coloured boots, which I see many of the swell clerks wearing in the City, and hear are all the ‘go’.

AUGUST 3. A beautiful day. Looking forward to tomorrow. Carrie bought a parasol about five feet long. 46 46 (August 3) Carrie bought a parasol about five feet long : Very contemporary. In 1888 5-foot handles were all the rage. Even then Pooter, as behind the times as ever, thinks it ridiculous. I told her it was ridiculous. She said: ‘Mrs James, of Sutton, has one twice as long’; so the matter dropped. I bought a capital hat for hot weather at the seaside. I don’t know what it is called, but it is the shape of the helmet worn in India, only made of straw. Got three new ties, two coloured handkerchiefs, and a pair of navy-blue socks at Pope Brothers. Spent the evening packing. Carrie told me not to forget to borrow Mr Higgsworth’s telescope, which he always lends me, knowing I know how to take care of it. Sent Sarah out for it. While everything was seeming so bright, the last post brought us a letter from Mrs Beck, saying: ‘I have let all my house to one party, and am sorry I must take back my words, and am sorry you must find other apartments; but Mrs Womming, next door, will be pleased to accommodate you, but she cannot take you before Monday, as her rooms are engaged Bank Holiday week.’

The unexpected arrival home of our son, Willie Lupin Pooter .

AUGUST 4. The first post brought a nice letter from our dear son Willie, acknowledging a trifling present which Carrie sent him, the day before yesterday being his twentieth birthday. To our utter amazement he turned up himself in the afternoon, having journeyed all the way from Oldham. He said he had got leave from the bank, and as Monday was a holiday he thought he would give us a little surprise.

AUGUST 5, SUNDAY. We have not seen Willie since last Christmas, and are pleased to notice what a fine young man he has grown. One would scarcely believe he was Carrie’s son. He looks more like a younger brother. I rather disapprove of his wearing a check suit on a Sunday, and I think he ought to have gone to church this morning; but he said he was tired after yesterday’s journey, so I refrained from any remark on the subject. We had a bottle of port for dinner, and drank dear Willie’s health.

He said: ‘Oh, by-the-by, did I tell you I’ve cut my first name, “William”, and taken the second name “Lupin”? 47 47 (August 5) and taken the second name “Lupin ”: William Pooter’s decision to adopt a name from the distaff side matches Weedon Grossmith’s decision as a young man to drop his given Christian name, Walter, and adopt a family name. Given young Pooter’s interest in the theatre the Grossmiths may have chosen the name Lupin in acknowledgement of the Lupinos, a theatrical family of Italian origin who came to England in 1642. In fact, I’m only known at Oldham as “Lupin Pooter”. If you were to “Willie” me there, they wouldn’t know what you meant.’

Of course, Lupin being a purely family name, Carrie was delighted, and began by giving a long history of the Lupins. I ventured to say that I thought William a nice simple name, and reminded him he was christened after his uncle William, who was much respected in the City. Willie, in a manner which I did not much care for, said sneeringly: ‘Oh, I know all about that – Good old Bill!’ and helped himself to a third glass of port.

Carrie objected strongly to my saying ‘Good old’, but she made no remark when Willie used the double adjective. I said nothing, but looked at her, which meant more. I said: ‘My dear Willie, I hope you are happy with your colleagues at the Bank.’ He replied: ‘Lupin, if you please; and with respect to the Bank, there’s not a clerk who is a gentleman, and the “boss” is a cad.’ I felt so shocked, I could say nothing, and my instinct told me there was something wrong.