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umbrella； but this girl I noticed because she was gazing at the club
windows。 She had stood thus for perhaps ten minutes when I became
aware that some one was leaning over me to look out at the window。 I
turned round。 Conceive my indignation on seeing that the rude person was
William。
〃How dare you； William？〃 I said； sternly。 He seemed not to hear me。
Let me tell； in the measured words of one describing a past incident； what
then took place。 To get nearer the window he pressed heavily on my
shoulder。
〃William； you forget yourself！〃 I said； meaningas I see nowthat he
had forgotten me。
I heard him gulp； but not to my reprimand。 He was scanning the street。
His hands chattered on my shoulder； and； pushing him from me； I saw that
his mouth was agape。
〃What are you looking for？〃 I asked。
He stared at me； and then； like one who had at last heard the echo of
my question； seemed to be brought back to the club。 He turned his face
from me for an instant； and answered shakily：
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〃I beg your pardon； sir！ II shouldn't have done it。 Are the bananas too
ripe； sir？〃
He recommended the nuts； and awaited my verdict so anxiously while
I ate one that I was about to speak graciously； when I again saw his eyes
drag him to the window。
〃William；〃 I said； my patience giving way at last； 〃I dislike being
waited on by a melancholy waiter。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 he replied； trying to smile； and then broke out passionately；
〃For God's sake； sir； tell me； have you seen a little girl booking in at the
club windows？〃
He had been a good waiter once； and his distracted visage was spoiling
my dinner。
〃There；〃 I said； pointing to the girl； and no doubt would have added
that he must bring me coffee immediately； had he continued to listen。 But
already he was beckoning to the child。 I have not the least interest in her
（indeed； it had never struck me that waiters had private affairs； and I still
think it a pity that they should have）； but as I happened to be looking out
at the window I could not avoid seeing what occurred。 As soon as the girl
saw William she ran into the street； regardless of vehicles； and nodded
three times to him。 Then she disappeared。
I have said that she was quite a common child； without attraction of
any sort； and yet it was amazing the difference she made in William。 He
gasped relief； like one who had broken through the anxiety that checks
breathing； and into his face there came a silly laugh of happiness。 I had
dined well； on the whole； so I said：
〃I am glad to see you cheerful again； William。〃
I meant that I approved his cheerfulness because it helped my
digestion； but he must needs think I was sympathising with him。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 he answered。 〃Oh； sir！ when she nodded and I saw it
was all right I could have gone down on my knees to God。〃
I was as much horrified as if he had dropped a plate on my toes。 Even
William； disgracefully emotional as he was at the moment； flung out his
arms to recall the shameful words。
〃Coffee； William！〃 I said； sharply。
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I sipped my coffee indignantly； for it was plain to me that William had
something on his mind。
〃You are not vexed with me； sir？〃 he had the hardihood to whisper。
〃It was a liberty；〃 I said。
〃I know； sir； but I was beside myself。〃
〃That was a liberty also。〃
He hesitated； and then blurted out：
〃It is my wife； sir。 She〃
I stopped him with my hand。 William； whom I had favoured in so
many ways； was a married man！ I might have guessed as much years
before had I ever reflected about waiters； for I knew vaguely that his class
did this sort of thing。 His confession was distasteful to me； and I said
warningly：
〃Remember where you are； William。〃
〃Yes； sir； but you see； she is so delicate〃
〃Delicate！ I forbid your speaking to me on unpleasant topics。〃
〃Yes； sir； begging your pardon。〃
It was characteristic of William to beg my pardon and withdraw his
wife； like some unsuccessful dish； as if its taste would not remain in the
mouth。 I shall be chided for questioning him further about his wife； but；
though doubtless an unusual step； it was only bad form superficially； for
my motive was irreproachable。 I inquired for his wife； not because I was
interested in her welfare； but in the hope of allaying my irritation。 So I am
entitled to invite the wayfarer who has bespattered me with mud to scrape
it off。
I desired to be told by William that the girl's signals meant his wife's
recovery to health。 He should have seen that such was my wish and
answered accordingly。 But； with the brutal inconsiderateness of his class；
he said：
〃She has had a good day； but the doctor； hethe doctor is afeard she is
dying。〃
Already I repented my questions。 William and his wife seemed in
league against me； when they might so easily have chosen some other
member。
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〃Pooh！ the doctor；〃 I said。
〃Yes； sir；〃 he answered。
〃Have you been married long； William？〃
〃Eight years； sir。 Eight years ago she wasII mind her when 。 。 。 and
now the doctor says〃
The fellow gaped at me。 〃More coffee； sir？〃 he asked。
〃What is her ailment？〃
〃She was always one of the delicate kind； but full of spirit； andand
you see； she has had a baby lately〃
〃William！〃
〃And sheIthe doctor is afeard she's not picking up。〃
〃I feel sure she will pick up。〃
〃Yes； sir？〃
It must have been the wine I had drunk that made me tell him：
〃I was once married； William。 My wifeit was just such a case as
yours。〃
〃She did not get better sir？〃
〃No。〃
After a pause he said； 〃Thank you； sir；〃 meaning for the sympathy that
made me tell him that。 But it must have been the wine。
〃That little girl comes here with a message from your wife？〃
〃Yes； if she nods three times it means my wife is a little better。〃
〃She nodded thrice to…day。〃
〃But she is told to do that to relieve me； and maybe those nods don't
tell the truth。〃
〃Is she your girl？〃
〃No； we have none