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THE DIARY OF A NOBODY. had heard from Gowing, and he replied that he had not. I said I should not have believed that Gowing could have acted in such an ungentlemanly manner. Cummings said: "You are mild in your description of him; I think he has acted like a cad."

The words were scarcety out of his mouth when the door opened, and Gowing, putting in his head, said: "May I come in?" I said: "Certainly." Carrie said very pointedly: "Well, you are a stranger." Gowing said: "Yes, I've been on and off to Croydon during the last fortnight." I could see Cummings was boiling over, and eventually he tackled Gowing very strongly respecting his conduct last Saturday week. Gowing appeared surprised, and said: "Why, I posted a letter to you in the morning announcing that the party was 'off, very much off.'" I said: "I never got it." Gowing, turning to Carrie, said: "I suppose letters sometimes miscarry, don't they, Mrs. Carrie? " Cummings sharply said: "This is not a time for joking. I had no notice of the party being put off." Gowing replied: "I told Pooter in my note to tell you, as I was in a hurry. However, I'll inquire at the postoffice, and we must meet again at my place." I added that I hoped he would be present at the next meeting. Carrie roared at 169