WHITE ROSE IS SAFELY IN HER PEN. THE GARDENER IS KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON HER. THE GARDENER DOESN'T TURN AWAY FOR A SINGLE MOMENT AS IF WHITE ROSE MIGHT ESCAPE FROM HER PEN.

BUT YOU CAN'T BE TOO CAREFUL ...

THE GARDENER WILL NOT LEAVE HIS POST. HE WON'T GO OUTSIDE, NOT EVEN IF IT POURS WITH RAIN AND THE WASHING GETS SOAKED ON THE LINE, AS HE WOKE THIS MORNING WITH A RATHER NASTY COLD.

HE CAUGHT A COLD FROM HAVING SPENT SO LONG BAREFOOT TRYING TO FIND HIS SHOES.

WHICH THE CAT HAD HIDDEN.

HE'D BEEN GIVEN THIS CAT BY THE YOUNGEST OF HIS BROTHERS.

THE YOUNGEST OF HIS BROTHERS WAS MARRIED TO DALVA, WHO HAD INHERITED THE CAT FORM AN UNCLE.

THE LOVE LETTER HAD BEEN SENT, BUT IT FELL OUT OF THE MAILMAN'S SACK

AT THE VERY MOMENT WHEN THE MAILMAN BENT DOWN TO PICK UP A BRASS RING.

DALVA'S UNCLE HAD DIED OF SORROW WAITING FOR A LOVE LETTER THAT NEVER CAME.

THE BRASS RING HAD ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK WHEN THE SEAMSTRESS THREW IT OUT OF HER WINDOW, TELLING HER FIANCE THAT SHE WOULD NOT MARRY HIM "FOR ALL THE GOLD IN THE WORLD!" UNLESS HE GOT RID OF THAT RIDICULOUS MOUSTACHE.

HE HAP GROWN THE RIDICULOUS MOUSTACHE BECAUSE OF A PROMISE MADE BY HIS MOTHER, AN OPERA SINGER. WHO HAD ALMOST LOST HER VOICE FROM SO MUCH SHOUTING HELP! WHEN SHE FELL DOWN THE HOLE.

THE HOLE HAD BEEN DUG TO BURY THE OLD MAN WHO HAD BEEN HOVERING BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. BUT HE DID NOT DIE. (HE ONLY DIDN'T DIE BECAUSE THE PERFORMING MONKEY WENT TO LIVE WITH HIM AND BROUGHT HIM HIS MEDICINE.)

THE PERFORMING MONKEY USED TO WORK IN THE CIRCUS. THEN RAN AWAY.

"WHY DID HE RUN AWAY?" ASKED THE CIRCUS OWNER.

"THE CLOWN STEPPED ON HIS TAIL WHEN HE RAN PAST."

"I RAN BECAUSE I HEART A NOISE," SAID THE CLOWN.

THE NOISE OF THE WORLD FALLING ON THE FLOOR.

AND THE WORLD WAS KEPT RIGHT ON TOP OF THE MANAGER'S DESK. A GIFT FROM HIS ANNOYING COUSIN.