I cleaned my bedroom yesterday, doing the full Monty — everything dusted, furniture out from the wall, baseboards and floor thoroughly mopped. Holy Dinah, the quantities of cat hair under the bed — !

The parlour and dining room are due for the same treatment today. When I finish, I shall have a lamb chop and a large glass of Médoc.

Why all this sudden flurry? I don’t want the cat visitor to think I’m a slob. Sweet are the appropriate uses of bourgeois pride.