Too many afternoons, sunny afternoons, are spent shut away in my office. For hours and hours, I read over my business accounts. It is a grand thing to receive profit from my investments and other interests, but the paperwork involved is tiring! Yesterday I had hoped to spend the afternoon by the brook, perhaps to do a spot of fishing. No such luck.
My labours were relieved, however, with the arrival of Dorso Bracegirdle. I sent him a letter some time ago, inviting him to Barleywick to stay for a time. There is a book in my collection, a first edition of Semblo the Silver-song's 'Poetry of the Tenth Century'. A poet himself, Dorso ought to find this a valuable read. We spoke for a time in the sitting room, where we caught up on the years since our last meeting. Apparently, the last time he was in Barleywick, Bordo was still in his tweens! He seems not to have changed much, from what I can remember. The fellow has known much sorrow in his life, but he is always so cheerful. Perhaps by brightening the days of others, he brightens himself.
