H /iDisbap 213 



was expected to win, so I need hardly say our old 

 friend had left nothing undone in his own mind. 

 Having a farewell glance at the looking-glass, he 

 said : 



" Now, Mrs. Goater, just before we start, I should 

 like half a bottle of soda-water and a thimbleful of 

 brandy." 



" Certainly, Mr. Gosden," said Mrs. Goater, 

 who rang the bell and told the servant to bring 

 it in. 



As the girl seemed afraid to do so, I offered to 

 open the soda-water. Mr. G. having helped himself 

 very sparingly to brandy, I proceeded to open the 

 Schweppe's soda, it was rather frisky, and finding 

 the cork very much inclined to shoot out, I resisted 

 it, with the result that it made straight for Mr. 

 Gosden's shirt-front, collar, and tie. The more 

 I tried to prevent it, the more the spray shot out. 

 Really, if I had tried to do it for a lark, I could 

 not have brought it off half so well. Poor Mr. 

 Gosden ! I shall never forget him. When he could 

 collect himself sufficiently to speak — he was in such 

 a rage he could not do so for a minute or two 

 — he called me everything he could think of, and 

 swore I had done it on purpose. Luckily, h'e had 

 not got his silk hat — that he was very proud of — on. 



