Marriage of Daisy Mutlar and Murray Posh. The dream of my liferealised. Mr. Perkupp takes Lupin into the office.

　　March 20. -To-day being the day on which Daisy Mutlar and Mr.

　　Murray Posh are to be married, Lupin has gone with a friend to spend theday at Gravesend. Lupin has been much cut-up over the affair, althoughhe declares that he is glad it is off. I wish he would not go to so manymusic-halls, but one dare not say anything to him about it. At the presentmoment he irritates me by singing all over the house some nonsense about"What's the matter with Gladstone? He's all right! What's the matterwith Lupin? He's all right!" I don't think either of them is. In theevening Gowing called, and the chief topic of conversation was Daisy'smarriage to Murray Posh. I said: "I was glad the matter was at an end,as Daisy would only have made a fool of Lupin." Gowing, with his usualgood taste, said: "Oh, Master Lupin can make a fool of himself withoutany assistance." Carrie very properly resented this, and Gowing hadsufficient sense to say he was sorry.

　　March 21. - To-day I shall conclude my diary, for it is one of thehappiest days of my life. My great dream of the last few weeks - in fact,of many years - has been realised. This morning came a letter from Mr.

　　Perkupp, asking me to take Lupin down to the office with me. I went toLupin's room; poor fellow, he seemed very pale, and said he had a badheadache. He had come back yesterday from Gravesend, where he spentpart of the day in a small boat on the water, having been mad enough toneglect to take his overcoat with him. I showed him Mr. Perkupp's letter,and he got up as quickly as possible. I begged of him not to put on hisfast-coloured clothes and ties, but to dress in something black or quiet-looking.

　　Carrie was all of a tremble when she read the letter, and all she couldkeep on saying was: "Oh, I DO hope it will be all right." For myself, Icould scarcely eat any breakfast. Lupin came down dressed quietly, and looking a perfect gentleman, except that his face was rather yellow.

　　Carrie, by way of encouragement said: "You do look nice, Lupin." Lupinreplied: "Yes, it's a good make- up, isn't it? A regular-downrightrespectable-funereal-first- class-City-firm-junior-clerk." He laughedrather ironically.

　　In the hall I heard a great noise,............