To hear the postman's knock and then discover, when you are expecting an important communication, that it is only a post-card about a flower-pot--that is really too bad.

And then I consider that some of the post-cards bordered upon insult.

One of them said, "What about chrysanthemum ?--reply at once." This was just like Gilray's overbearing way; but I answered politely, and so far as I knew, truthfully, "Chrysanthemum all right." Knowing that there was no explaining things to Gilray, I redoubled my exertions to water his flower-pot as the day for his return drew near.
Once, indeed, when I rang for water, I could not for the life of me remember what I wanted it for when it was brought.

Had I had any forethought I should have left the tumbler stand just as it was to show it to Gilray on his return.

But, unfortunately, William John had misunderstood what I wanted the water for, and put a decanter down beside it.