THE DIARY OF A NOBODY PART 8
CHAPTER XXII
Master Percy Edgar Smith James. Mrs. James
(of Sutton visits us again and introduces “Spiritual Séances.”
May 26,
Sunday.—We went to Sutton after dinner to have meat-tea with Mr. and Mrs.
James. I had no appetite, having dined well at two, and the entire
evening was spoiled by little Percy—their only son—who seems to me to be an
utterly spoiled child.
Two or
three times he came up to me and deliberately kicked my shins. He hurt me
once so much that the tears came into my eyes. I gently remonstrated with
him, and Mrs. James said: “Please don’t scold him; I do not believe in being
too severe with young children. You spoil their character.”
Little
Percy set up a deafening yell here, and when Carrie tried to pacify him, he
slapped her face.
I was so
annoyed, I said: “That is not my idea of bringing up children, Mrs. James.”
Mrs.
James said. “People have different ideas of bringing up children—even
your son Lupin is not the standard of perfection.”
A Mr.
Mezzini (an Italian, I fancy) here took Percy in his lap. The child
wriggled and kicked and broke away from Mr. Mezzini, saying: “I don’t like
you—you’ve got a dirty face.”
A very
nice gentleman, Mr. Birks Spooner, took the child by the wrist and said: “Come
here, dear, and listen to this.”
He
detached his chronometer from the chain and made his watch strike six.
To our
horror, the child snatched it from his hand and bounced it down upon the ground
like one would a ball.
Mr. Birks
Spooner was most amiable, and said he could easily get a new glass put in, and
did not suppose the works were damaged.
To show
you how people’s opinions differ, Carrie said the child was bad-tempered, but
it made up for that defect by its looks, for it was—in her mind—an
unquestionably beautiful child.
I may be
wrong, but I do not think I have seen a much uglier child myself. That is
my opinion.
May 30.—I
don’t know why it is, but I never anticipate with any pleasure the visits to
our house of Mrs. James, of Sutton. She is coming again to stay for a few
days. I said to Carrie this morning, as I was leaving: “I wish, dear
Carrie, I could like Mrs. James better than I do.”
Carrie
said: “So do I, dear; but as for years I have had to put up with Mr. Gowing,
who is vulgar, and Mr. Cummings, who is kind but most uninteresting, I am sure,
dear, you won’t mind the occasional visits of Mrs. James, who has more
intellect in her little finger than both your friends have in their entire
bodies.”
I was so
entirely taken back by this onslaught on my two dear old friends, I could say
nothing, and as I heard the ’bus coming, I left with a hurried kiss—a little
too hurried, perhaps, for my upper lip came in contact with Carrie’s teeth and
slightly cut it. It was quite painful for an hour afterwards. When
I came home in the evening I found Carrie buried in a book on Spiritualism,
called There is no Birth, by Florence Singleyet. I need scarcely
say the book was sent her to read by Mrs. James, of Sutton. As she had
not a word to say outside her book, I spent the rest of the evening altering
the stair-carpets, which are beginning to show signs of wear at the edges.
Mrs.
James arrived and, as usual, in the evening took the entire management of
everything. Finding that she and Carrie were making some preparations for
table-turning, I thought it time really to put my foot down. I have
always had the greatest contempt for such nonsense, and put an end to it years
ago when Carrie, at our old house, used to have séances every night with poor
Mrs. Fussters (who is now dead). If I could see any use in it, I would
not care. As I stopped it in the days gone by, I determined to do so now.
I said:
“I am very sorry Mrs. James, but I totally disapprove of it, apart from the
fact that I receive my old friends on this evening.”
Mrs.
James said: “Do you mean to say you haven’t read There is no Birth?”
I said: “No, and I have no intention of doing so.” Mrs. James seemed
surprised and said: “All the world is going mad over the book.” I
responded rather cleverly: “Let it. There will be one sane man in it, at
all events.”
Mrs.
James said she thought it was very unkind, and if people were all as prejudiced
as I was, there would never have been the electric telegraph or the telephone.
I said
that was quite a different thing.
Mrs.
James said sharply: “In what way, pray—in what way?”
I said:
“In many ways.”
Mrs.
James said: “Well, mention one way.”
I replied
quietly: “Pardon me, Mrs. James; I decline to discuss the matter. I am
not interested in it.”
Sarah at
this moment opened the door and showed in Cummings, for which I was thankful,
for I felt it would put a stop to this foolish table-turning. But I was
entirely mistaken; for, on the subject being opened again, Cummings said he was
most interested in Spiritualism, although he was bound to confess he did not
believe much in it; still, he was willing to be convinced.
I firmly
declined to take any part in it, with the result that my presence was ignored.
I left the three sitting in the parlour at a small round table which they had
taken out of the drawing-room. I walked into the hall with the ultimate
intention of taking a little stroll. As I opened the door, who should
come in but Gowing!
On hearing
what was going on, he proposed that we should join the circle and he would go
into a trance. He added that he knew a few things about old
Cummings, and would invent a few about Mrs. James. Knowing how
dangerous Gowing is, I declined to let him take part in any such foolish
performance. Sarah asked me if she could go out for half an hour, and I
gave her permission, thinking it would be more comfortable to sit with Gowing
in the kitchen than in the cold drawing-room. We talked a good deal about
Lupin and Mr. and Mrs. Murray Posh, with whom he is as usual spending the
evening. Gowing said: “I say, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for Lupin if old
Posh kicked the bucket.”
My heart
gave a leap of horror, and I rebuked Gowing very sternly for joking on such a
subject. I lay awake half the night thinking of it—the other half was
spent in nightmares on the same subject.
May 31.—I
wrote a stern letter to the laundress. I was rather pleased with the
letter, for I thought it very satirical. I said: “You have returned the
handkerchiefs without the colour. Perhaps you will return either the
colour or the value of the handkerchiefs.” I shall be rather curious to
know what she will have to say.
More
table-turning in the evening. Carrie said last night was in a measure
successful, and they ought to sit again. Cummings came in, and seemed
interested. I had the gas lighted in the drawing-room, got the steps, and
repaired the cornice, which has been a bit of an eyesore to me. In a fit
of unthinkingness—if I may use such an expression,—I gave the floor over the
parlour, where the séance was taking place, two loud raps with the
hammer. I felt sorry afterwards, for it was the sort of ridiculous,
foolhardy thing that Gowing or Lupin would have done.
However,
they never even referred to it, but Carrie declared that a message came through
the table to her of a wonderful description, concerning someone whom she and I
knew years ago, and who was quite unknown to the others.
When we
went to bed, Carrie asked me as a favour to sit to-morrow night, to oblige
her. She said it seemed rather unkind and unsociable on my part. I
promised I would sit once.
June 1.—I
sat reluctantly at the table in the evening, and I am bound to admit some
curious things happened. I contend they were coincidences, but they were
curious. For instance, the table kept tilting towards me, which Carrie
construed as a desire that I should ask the spirit a question. I obeyed
the rules, and I asked the spirit (who said her name was Lina) if she could
tell me the name of an old aunt of whom I was thinking, and whom we used to
call Aunt Maggie. The table spelled out C A T. We could make
nothing out of it, till I suddenly remembered that her second name was
Catherine, which it was evidently trying to spell. I don’t think even
Carrie knew this. But if she did, she would never cheat. I must
admit it was curious. Several other things happened, and I consented to
sit at another séance on Monday.
June
3.—The laundress called, and said she was very sorry about the handkerchiefs,
and returned ninepence. I said, as the colour was completely washed out
and the handkerchiefs quite spoiled, ninepence was not enough. Carrie
replied that the two handkerchiefs originally only cost sixpence, for she
remembered bring them at a sale at the Holloway Bon Marché. In
that case, I insisted that threepence buying should be returned to the
laundress. Lupin has gone to stay with the Poshs for a few days. I
must say I feel very uncomfortable about it. Carrie said I was ridiculous
to worry about it. Mr. Posh was very fond of Lupin, who, after all, was
only a mere boy.
In the
evening we had another séance, which, in some respects, was very remarkable,
although the first part of it was a little doubtful. Gowing called, as
well as Cummings, and begged to be allowed to join the circle. I wanted
to object, but Mrs. James, who appears a good Medium (that is, if there is
anything in it at all), thought there might be a little more spirit power if
Gowing joined; so the five of us sat down.
The
moment I turned out the gas, and almost before I could get my hands on the
table, it rocked violently and tilted, and began moving quickly across the
room. Gowing shouted out: “Way oh! steady, lad, steady!” I told
Gowing if he could not behave himself I should light the gas, and put an end to
the séance.
To tell
the truth, I thought Gowing was playing tricks, and I hinted as much; but Mrs.
James said she had often seen the table go right off the ground. The
spirit Lina came again, and said, “WARN” three or four times, and declined to
explain. Mrs. James said “Lina” was stubborn sometimes. She often
behaved like that, and the best thing to do was to send her away.
She then
hit the table sharply, and said: “Go away, Lina; you are disagreeable. Go
away!” I should think we sat nearly three-quarters of an hour with
nothing happening. My hands felt quite cold, and I suggested we should
stop the séance. Carrie and Mrs. James, as well as Cummings, would not
agree to it. In about ten minutes’ time there was some tilting towards
me. I gave the alphabet, and it spelled out S P O O F. As I have
heard both Gowing and Lupin use the word, and as I could hear Gowing silently
laughing, I directly accused him of pushing the table. He denied it; but,
I regret to say, I did not believe him.
Gowing
said: “Perhaps it means ‘Spook,’ a ghost.”
I said: “You
know it doesn’t mean anything of the sort.”
Gowing
said: “Oh! very well—I’m sorry I ‘spook,’” and he rose from the table.
No one
took any notice of the stupid joke, and Mrs. James suggested he should sit out
for a while. Gowing consented and sat in the arm-chair.
The table
began to move again, and we might have had a wonderful séance but for Gowing’s
stupid interruptions. In answer to the alphabet from Carrie the table
spelt “NIPUL,” then the “WARN” three times. We could not think what it
meant till Cummings pointed out that “NIPUL” was Lupin spelled backwards.
This was quite exciting. Carrie was particularly excited, and said she
hoped nothing horrible was going to happen.
Mrs.
James asked if “Lina” was the spirit. The table replied firmly, “No,” and
the spirit would not give his or her name. We then had the message,
“NIPUL will be very rich.”
Carrie
said she felt quite relieved, but the word “WARN” was again spelt out.
The table then began to oscillate violently, and in reply to Mrs. James, who
spoke very softly to the table, the spirit began to spell its name. It
first spelled “DRINK.”
Gowing
here said: “Ah! that’s more in my line.”
I asked
him to be quiet as the name might not be completed.
The table
then spelt “WATER.”
Gowing
here interrupted again, and said: “Ah! that’s not in my line. Outside
if you like, but not inside.”
Carrie
appealed to him to be quiet.
The table
then spelt “CAPTAIN,” and Mrs. James startled us by crying out, “Captain
Drinkwater, a very old friend of my father’s, who has been dead some years.”
This was
more interesting, and I could not help thinking that after all there must be
something in Spiritualism.
Mrs.
James asked the spirit to interpret the meaning of the word “Warn” as applied
to “NIPUL.” The alphabet was given again, and we got the word “BOSH.”
Gowing
here muttered: “So it is.”
Mrs.
James said she did not think the spirit meant that, as Captain Drinkwater was a
perfect gentleman, and would never have used the word in answer to a lady’s
question. Accordingly the alphabet was given again.
This time
the table spelled distinctly “POSH.” We all thought of Mrs. Murray Posh
and Lupin. Carrie was getting a little distressed, and as it was getting
late we broke up the circle.
We
arranged to have one more to-morrow, as it will be Mrs. James’ last night in
town. We also determined not to have Gowing present.
Cummings,
before leaving, said it was certainly interesting, but he wished the spirits
would say something about him.
June
4.—Quite looking forward to the séance this evening. Was thinking of it
all the day at the office.
Just as
we sat down at the table we were annoyed by Gowing entering without knocking.
He said:
“I am not going to stop, but I have brought with me a sealed envelope, which I
know I can trust with Mrs. Pooter. In that sealed envelope is a strip of
paper on which I have asked a simple question. If the spirits can answer
that question, I will believe in Spiritualism.”
I
ventured the expression that it might be impossible.
Mrs.
James said: “Oh no! it is of common occurrence for the spirits to answer
questions under such conditions—and even for them to write on locked
slates. It is quite worth trying. If ‘Lina’ is in a good temper,
she is certain to do it.”
Gowing
said: “All right; then I shall be a firm believer. I shall perhaps drop
in about half-past nine or ten, and hear the result.”
He then
left and we sat a long time. Cummings wanted to know something about some
undertaking in which he was concerned, but he could get no answer of any
description whatever—at which he said he was very disappointed and was afraid
there was not much in table-turning after all. I thought this rather
selfish of him. The séance was very similar to the one last night, almost
the same in fact. So we turned to the letter. “Lina” took a long
time answering the question, but eventually spelt out “ROSES, LILIES, AND
COWS.” There was great rocking of the table at this time, and Mrs. James
said: “If that is Captain Drinkwater, let us ask him the answer as well?”
It was
the spirit of the Captain, and, most singular, he gave the same identical
answer: “ROSES, LILIES, AND COWS.”
I cannot
describe the agitation with which Carrie broke the seal, or the disappointment
we felt on reading the question, to which the answer was so
inappropriate. The question was, “What’s old Pooter’s age?”
This
quite decided me.
As I had
put my foot down on Spiritualism years ago, so I would again.
I am pretty
easy-going as a rule, but I can be extremely firm when driven to it.
I said
slowly, as I turned up the gas: “This is the last of this nonsense that shall
ever take place under my roof. I regret I permitted myself to be a party
to such tomfoolery. If there is anything in it—which I doubt—it is
nothing of any good, and I won’t have it again. That is enough.”
Mrs.
James said: “I think, Mr. Pooter, you are rather over-stepping—”
I said:
“Hush, madam. I am master of this house—please understand that.”
Mrs.
James made an observation which I sincerely hope I was mistaken in. I was
in such a rage I could not quite catch what she said. But if I thought
she said what it sounded like, she should never enter the house again.
CHAPTER XXIII
Lupin leaves us. We dine at his new
apartments, and hear some extraordinary information respecting the wealth of
Mr. Murray Posh. Meet Miss Lilian Posh. Am sent for by Mr. Hardfur
Huttle. Important.
July 1.—I
find, on looking over my diary, nothing of any consequence has taken place
during the last month. To-day we lose Lupin, who has taken furnished
apartments at Bayswater, near his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Posh, at two
guineas a week. I think this is most extravagant of him, as it is half
his salary. Lupin says one never loses by a good address, and, to use his
own expression, Brickfield Terrace is a bit “off.” Whether he means it is
“far off” I do not know. I have long since given up trying to understand
his curious expressions. I said the neighbourhood had always been good
enough for his parents. His reply was: “It is no question of being good
or bad. There is no money in it, and I am not going to rot away my life
in the suburbs.”
We are
sorry to lose him, but perhaps he will get on better by himself, and there may
be some truth in his remark that an old and a young horse can’t pull together
in the same cart.
Gowing
called, and said that the house seemed quite peaceful, and like old
times. He liked Master Lupin very well, but he occasionally suffered from
what he could not help—youth.
July
2.—Cummings called, looked very pale, and said he had been very ill again, and
of course not a single friend had been near him. Carrie said she had
never heard of it, whereupon he threw down a copy of the Bicycle News on
the table, with the following paragraph: “We regret to hear that that favourite
old roadster, Mr. Cummings (‘Long’ Cummings), has met with what might have been
a serious accident in Rye Lane. A mischievous boy threw a stick between
the spokes of one of the back wheels, and the machine overturned, bringing our
brother tricyclist heavily to the ground. Fortunately he was more
frightened than hurt, but we missed his merry face at the dinner at Chingford, where
they turned up in good numbers. ‘Long’ Cummings’ health was proposed by
our popular Vice, Mr. Westropp, the prince of bicyclists, who in his happiest
vein said it was a case of ‘Cumming(s) thro’ the Rye, but
fortunately there was more wheel than woe,’ a joke which created
roars of laughter.”
We all
said we were very sorry, and pressed Cummings to stay to supper. Cummings
said it was like old times being without Lupin, and he was much better away.
July 3,
Sunday.—In the afternoon, as I was looking out of the parlour window, which was
open, a grand trap, driven by a lady, with a gentleman seated by the side of
her, stopped at our door. Not wishing to be seen, I withdrew my head very
quickly, knocking the back of it violently against the sharp edge of the window-sash.
I was nearly stunned. There was a loud double-knock at the front door;
Carrie rushed out of the parlour, upstairs to her room, and I followed, as
Carrie thought it was Mr. Perkupp. I thought it was Mr. Franching.—I
whispered to Sarah over the banisters: “Show them into the drawing-room.”
Sarah said, as the shutters were not opened, the room would smell musty.
There was another loud rat-tat. I whispered: “Then show them into the
parlour, and say Mr. Pooter will be down directly.” I changed my coat,
but could not see to do my hair, as Carrie was occupying the glass.
Sarah
came up, and said it was Mrs. Murray Posh and Mr. Lupin.
This was
quite a relief. I went down with Carrie, and Lupin met me with the
remark: “I say, what did you run away from the window for? Did we
frighten you?”
I
foolishly said: “What window?”
Lupin
said: “Oh, you know. Shut it. You looked as if you were playing at
Punch and Judy.”
On Carrie
asking if she could offer them anything, Lupin said: “Oh, I think Daisy will take
on a cup of tea. I can do with a B. and S.”
I said:
“I am afraid we have no soda.”
Lupin
said: “Don’t bother about that. You just trip out and hold the horse; I
don’t think Sarah understands it.”
They
stayed a very short time, and as they were leaving, Lupin said: “I want you
both to come and dine with me next Wednesday, and see my new place. Mr.
and Mrs. Murray Posh, Miss Posh (Murray’s sister) are coming. Eight
o’clock sharp. No one else.”
I said we
did not pretend to be fashionable people, and would like the dinner earlier, as
it made it so late before we got home.
Lupin
said: “Rats! You must get used to it. If it comes to that, Daisy
and I can drive you home.”
We
promised to go; but I must say in my simple mind the familiar way in which Mrs.
Posh and Lupin addressed each other is reprehensible. Anybody would think
they had been children together. I certainly should object to a six
months’ acquaintance calling my wife “Carrie,” and driving out with her.
July
4.—Lupin’s rooms looked very nice; but the dinner was, I thought, a little too
grand, especially as he commenced with champagne straight off. I also
think Lupin might have told us that he and Mr. and Mrs. Murray Posh and Miss
Posh were going to put on full evening dress. Knowing that the dinner was
only for us six, we never dreamed it would be a full dress affair. I had
no appetite. It was quite twenty minutes past eight before we sat down to
dinner. At six I could have eaten a hearty meal. I had a bit of
bread-and-butter at that hour, feeling famished, and I expect that partly
spoiled my appetite.
We were
introduced to Miss Posh, whom Lupin called “Lillie Girl,” as if he had known
her all his life. She was very tall, rather plain, and I thought she was
a little painted round the eyes. I hope I am wrong; but she had such fair
hair, and yet her eyebrows were black. She looked about thirty. I
did not like the way she kept giggling and giving Lupin smacks and pinching
him. Then her laugh was a sort of a scream that went right through my
ears, all the more irritating because there was nothing to laugh at. In
fact, Carrie and I were not at all prepossessed with her. They all smoked
cigarettes after dinner, including Miss Posh, who startled Carrie by saying:
“Don’t you smoke, dear?” I answered for Carrie, and said: “Mrs. Charles
Pooter has not arrived at it yet,” whereupon Miss Posh gave one of her piercing
laughs again.
Mrs. Posh
sang a dozen songs at least, and I can only repeat what I have said before—she
does not sing in tune; but Lupin sat by the side of the piano, gazing
into her eyes the whole time. If I had been Mr. Posh, I think I should
have had something to say about it. Mr. Posh made himself very agreeable
to us, and eventually sent us home in his carriage, which I thought most
kind. He is evidently very rich, for Mrs. Posh had on some beautiful
jewellery. She told Carrie her necklace, which her husband gave her as a
birthday present, alone cost £300.
Mr. Posh
said he had a great belief in Lupin, and thought he would make rapid way in the
world.
I could
not help thinking of the £600 Mr. Posh lost over the Parachikka Chlorates
through Lupin’s advice.
During
the evening I had an opportunity to speak to Lupin, and expressed a hope that
Mr. Posh was not living beyond his means.
Lupin
sneered, and said Mr. Posh was worth thousands. “Posh’s one-price hat”
was a household word in Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and all the big
towns throughout England. Lupin further informed me that Mr. Posh was
opening branch establishments at New York, Sydney, and Melbourne, and was
negotiating for Kimberley and Johannesburg.
I said I
was pleased to hear it.
Lupin
said: “Why, he has settled over £10,000 on Daisy, and the same amount on
‘Lillie Girl.’ If at any time I wanted a little capital, he would put up
a couple of ‘thou’ at a day’s notice, and could buy up Perkupp’s firm over his
head at any moment with ready cash.”
On the
way home in the carriage, for the first time in my life, I was inclined to
indulge in the radical thought that money was not properly divided.
On
arriving home at a quarter-past eleven, we found a hansom cab, which had been
waiting for me for two hours with a letter. Sarah said she did not know
what to do, as we had not left the address where we had gone. I trembled
as I opened the letter, fearing it was some bad news about Mr. Perkupp.
The note was: “Dear Mr. Pooter,—Come down to the Victoria Hotel without
delay. Important. Yours truly, Hardfur Huttle.”
I asked
the cabman if it was too late. The cabman replied that it was not;
for his instructions were, if I happened to be out, he was to wait till I came
home. I felt very tired, and really wanted to go to bed. I reached
the hotel at a quarter before midnight. I apologised for being so late,
but Mr. Huttle said: “Not at all; come and have a few oysters.” I feel my
heart beating as I write these words. To be brief, Mr. Huttle said he had
a rich American friend who wanted to do something large in our line of
business, and that Mr. Franching had mentioned my name to him. We talked
over the matter. If, by any happy chance, the result be successful, I can
more than compensate my dear master for the loss of Mr. Crowbillon’s
custom. Mr. Huttle had previously said: “The glorious ‘Fourth’ is a lucky
day for America, and, as it has not yet struck twelve, we will celebrate it
with a glass of the best wine to be had in the place, and drink good luck to
our bit of business.”
I
fervently hope it will bring good luck to us all.
It was
two o’clock when I got home. Although I was so tired, I could not sleep
except for short intervals—then only to dream.
I kept
dreaming of Mr. Perkupp and Mr. Huttle. The latter was in a lovely palace
with a crown on. Mr. Perkupp was waiting in the room. Mr. Huttle
kept taking off this crown and handing it to me, and calling me “President.”
He
appeared to take no notice of Mr. Perkupp, and I kept asking Mr. Huttle to give
the crown to my worthy master. Mr. Huttle kept saying: “No, this is the
White House of Washington, and you must keep your crown, Mr. President.”
We all
laughed long and very loudly, till I got parched, and then I woke up. I
fell asleep, only to dream the same thing over and over again.
CHAPTER THE LAST
One of the happiest days of my life.
July
10.—The excitement and anxiety through which I have gone the last few days have
been almost enough to turn my hair grey. It is all but settled.
To-morrow the die will be cast. I have written a long letter to
Lupin—feeling it my duty to do so,—regarding his attention to Mrs. Posh, for
they drove up to our house again last night.
July
11.—I find my eyes filling with tears as I pen the note of my interview this
morning with Mr. Perkupp. Addressing me, he said: “My faithful servant, I
will not dwell on the important service you have done our firm. You can
never be sufficiently thanked. Let us change the subject. Do you
like your house, and are you happy where you are?”
I
replied: “Yes, sir; I love my house and I love the neighbourhood, and could not
bear to leave it.”
Mr.
Perkupp, to my surprise, said: “Mr. Pooter, I will purchase the freehold of
that house, and present it to the most honest and most worthy man it has ever
been my lot to meet.”
He shook
my hand, and said he hoped my wife and I would be spared many years to enjoy
it. My heart was too full to thank him; and, seeing my embarrassment, the
good fellow said: “You need say nothing, Mr. Pooter,” and left the office.
I sent
telegrams to Carrie, Gowing, and Cummings (a thing I have never done before),
and asked the two latter to come round to supper.
On
arriving home I found Carrie crying with joy, and I sent Sarah round to the
grocer’s to get two bottles of “Jackson Frères.”
My two
dear friends came in the evening, and the last post brought a letter from Lupin
in reply to mine. I read it aloud to them all. It ran: “My dear old
Guv.,—Keep your hair on. You are on the wrong tack again. I am
engaged to be married to ‘Lillie Girl.’ I did not mention it last
Thursday, as it was not definitely settled. We shall be married in
August, and amongst our guests we hope to see your old friends Gowing and
Cummings. With much love to all, from The same old Lupin.”