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           “Yes,”Ireplied;“Ithinkevenyouwillsaysothistime.It’sconcerningyouboth;fordoesn’titseemoddthatGowing’salwayscomingandCummings’alwaysgoing?”Carrie,whohadevidentlyquiteforgottenaboutthebath,wentintofitsoflaughter,andasformyself,Ifairlydoubledupinmychair,tillitcrackedbeneathme.IthinkthiswasoneofthebestjokesIhaveevermade.

           ThenimaginemyastonishmentonperceivingbothCummingsandGowingperfectlysilent,andwithoutasmileontheirfaces.Afterratheranunpleasantpause,Cummings,whohadopenedacigar-case,closeditupagainandsaid:“Yes—Ithink,afterthat,Ishallbegoing,andIamsorryIfailtoseethefunofyourjokes.”Gowingsaidhedidn’tmindajokewhenitwasn’trude,butapunonaname,tohisthinking,wascertainlyalittlewantingingoodtaste.Cummingsfolloweditupbysaying,ifithadbeensaidbyanyoneelsebutmyself,heshouldn’thaveenteredthehouseagain.Thisratherunpleasantlyterminatedwhatmighthavebeenacheerfulevening.However,itwasaswelltheywent,forthecharwomanhadfinisheduptheremainsofthecoldpork.

           April28.—Attheoffice,thenewandveryyoungclerkPitt,whowasveryimpudenttomeaweekorsoago,waslateagain.ItoldhimitwouldbemydutytoinformMr.Perkupp,theprincipal.Tomysurprise,Pittapologisedmosthumblyandinamostgentlemanlyfashion.Iwasunfeignedlypleasedtonoticethisimprovementinhismannertowardsme,andtoldhimIwouldlookoverhisunpunctuality.