"Oh! dear, our Mr Fastidious," commented Blanche, "I thought he was dead long ago." "It must be over four years since 'e left," put in Mrs Gosling. "Getting on for five," corrected Blanche. "I remember I put my hair up while he was here." "What's he say?" asked Millie. "'E says, 'Dear Mr Gosling, I expect you will be surprised to 'ear from me after my five years' silence----'" "I said it was five years," put in Blanche. "Go on, dad!" Dad resumed "... 'but I 'ave been in various parts of the world and it 'as been quite impossible to keep up a correspondence. I am writing now to tell you that I shall be back in London in a few days, and to ask you whether you can find a room for me in Wisteria Grove?'" "Well! I should 'ave thought he'd 'ave written to me to ask that!" said Mrs Gosling. "So 'e should 'ave, by rights," agreed Gosling. "But 'e's a queer card is Mr Thrale." "Bit dotty, if you ask me," said Blanche. "'S that all?" asked Mrs Gosling. "No, 'e says: 'I can't give you an address as I go on to Berlin immediately, but I will look you up the evening after I arrive. Eastern Europe is not safe at the present time. There 'ave been several cases of the new plague in Moscow, but the authorities are doing everything they can--which is much in Russia--to keep the news out of the press, yours sincerely, Jasper Thrale,' and that's the lot," concluded Gosling. "I do think he's a cool hand," commented Blanche. "Of course you won't have him as a paying guest now?" Gosling and his wife looked at each other, thoughtfully. "Well----" hesitated Gosling. "'E might bring the infection," suggested Mrs Gosling. "Oh! no fear of that," returned her husband, "but I dunno as we want a boarder now. Five years ago I 'adn't got my big rise----" "Oh, no, father; what would the neighbours think of us if we started to take boarders again?" protested Blanche. "It wouldn't look well," agreed Mrs Gosling. "Jus' what I was thinking," said the head of the house. "'Owever, there's no 'arm in payin' us a friendly visit." "O' course not," said Mrs Gosling, "though I do think it odd 'e shouldn't 'ave written to me in the first place. "He's dotty!" said Blanche. Gosling shook his head. "Not by a very long chalk 'e ain't," was his firm pronouncement.... "Well, girls, what about bed?" asked Mrs Gosling, putting away the "bit of mending" she had been engaged upon. Gosling yawned again, stretched himself, and rose grunting to his feet. "I'm about ready for my bed," he remarked, and after another yawn he started his nightly round of inspection. When he returned to the sitting-room the others were all ready to retire. Gosling kissed his daughters, and the two girls and their mother went upstairs. Gosling carefully took off the larger pieces of coal from the fire and put them under the grate, rolled up the hearthrug, saw that the window was securely fastened, extinguished the lamp and followed his "womenfolk."