Chapter 17

           March20.—To-daybeingthedayonwhichDaisyMutlarandMr.MurrayPosharetobemarried,LupinhasgonewithafriendtospendthedayatGravesend.Lupinhasbeenmuchcut-upovertheaffair,althoughhedeclaresthatheisgladitisoff.Iwishhewouldnotgotosomanymusic-halls,butonedarenotsayanythingtohimaboutit.Atthepresentmomentheirritatesmebysingingalloverthehousesomenonsenseabout“What’sthematterwithGladstone?He’sallright!What’sthematterwithLupin?He’sallright!”Idon’tthinkeitherofthemis.IntheeveningGowingcalled,andthechieftopicofconversationwasDaisy’smarriagetoMurrayPosh.Isaid:“Iwasgladthematterwasatanend,asDaisywouldonlyhavemadeafoolofLupin.”Gowing,withhisusualgoodtaste,said:“Oh,MasterLupincanmakeafoolofhimselfwithoutanyassistance.”Carrieveryproperlyresentedthis,andGowinghadsufficientsensetosayhewassorry.

           March21.—To-dayIshallconcludemydiary,foritisoneofthehappiestdaysofmylife.Mygreatdreamofthelastfewweeks—infact,ofmanyyears—hasbeenrealised.ThismorningcamealetterfromMr.Perkupp,askingmetotakeLupindowntotheofficewithme.IwenttoLupin’sroom;poorfellow,heseemedverypale,andsaidhehadabadheadache.HehadcomebackyesterdayfromGravesend,wherehespentpartofthedayinasmallboatonthewater,havingbeenmadenoughtoneglecttotakehisovercoatwithhim.IshowedhimMr.Perkupp’sletter,andhegotupasquicklyaspossible.