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take tea with a waiter's familyclose to a window too； through which I
could see the girl Jenny talking excitedly to the villagers； and telling them；
I felt certain； that I had been good to William。 I had a desire to go out and
put myself right with those people。
William's long connection with the club should have given him some
manners； but apparently his class cannot take them on； for； though he
knew I regarded his thanks as an insult； he looked them when he was not
speaking them； and hardly had he sat down； by my orders； than he
remembered that I was a member of the club； and jumped up。 Nothing is
in worse form than whispering； yet again and again； when he thought I
was not listening； he whispered to Mrs。 Hicking； 〃You don't feel faint？〃 or
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〃How are you now？〃 He was also in extravagant glee because she ate two
cakes （it takes so little to put these people in good spirits）； and when she
said she felt like another being already the fellow's face charged me with
the change。 I could not but conclude； from the way Mrs。 Hicking let the
baby pound her； that she was stronger than she had pretended。
I remained longer than was necessary； because I had something to say
to William which I knew he would misunderstand； and so I put off saying
it。 But when he announced that it was time for him to return to London；at
which his wife suddenly paled； so that he had to sign to her not to break
down；I delivered the message。
〃William；〃 I said； 〃the head waiter asked me to say that you could take
a fortnight's holiday just now。 Your wages will be paid as usual。〃
Confound them！ William had me by the hand； and his wife was in
tears before I could reach the door。
〃Is it your doing again； sir？〃 William cried。
〃William！〃 I said； fiercely。
〃We owe everything to you；〃 he insisted。 〃The port wine〃
〃Because I had no room for it in my cellar。〃
〃The money for the nurse in London〃
〃Because I objected to being waited on by a man who got no sleep。〃
〃These lodgings〃
〃Because I wanted to do something for my old nurse。〃
〃And now； sir； a fortnight's holiday！〃
〃Good…bye； William！〃 I said； in a fury。
But before I could get away Mrs。 Hicking signed to William to leave
the room； and then she kissed my hand。 She said something to me。 It was
about my wife。 Somehow I What business had William to tell her about
my wife？
They are all back in Drury Lane now； and William tells me that his
wife sings at her work just as she did eight years ago。 I have no interest in
this； and try to check his talk of it； but such people have no sense of
propriety； and he even speaks of the girl Jenny； who sent me lately a gaudy
pair of worsted gloves worked by her own hand。 The meanest advantage
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they took of my weakness； however； was in calling their baby after me。 I
have an uncomfortable suspicion； too； that William has given the other
waiters his version of the affair； but I feel safe so long as it does not reach
the committee。
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THE BLACK POODLE
BY F。 ANSTEY
I have set myself the task of relating in the course of this story； without
suppressing or altering a single detail； the most painful and humiliating
episode of my life。
I do this； not because it will give me the least pleasure； but simply
because it affords me an opportunity of extenuating myself； which has
hitherto been wholly denied to me。
As a general rule； I am quite aware that to publish a lengthy
explanation of one's conduct in any questionable transaction is not the best
means of recovering a lost reputation； but in my own case there is one to
whom I shall nevermore be permitted to justify by word of moutheven if
I found myself able to attempt it。 And as she could not possibly think
worse of me than she does at present； I write this； knowing it can do me no
harm； and faintly hoping that it may come to her notice and suggest a
doubt whether I am quite so unscrupulous a villain； so consummate a
hypocrite； as I have been forced to appear in her eyes。
The bare chance of such a result makes me perfectly indifferent to all
else； I cheerfully expose to the derision of the whole reading world the
story of my weakness and my shame； since by doing so I may possibly
rehabilitate myself somewhat in the good opinion of one person。
Having said so much； I will begin my confession without further delay。
My name is Algernon Weatherhead； and I may add that I am in one of
the government departments； that I am an only son； and live at home with
my mother。
We had had a house at Hammersmith until just before the period
covered by this history； when； our lease expiring； my mother decided that
my health required country air at the close of the day； and so we took a
〃desirable villa residence〃 on one of the many new building estates which
have lately sprung up in such profusion in the home counties。
We have called it 〃Wistaria Villa。〃 It is a pretty little place； the last of a
row of detached villas； each with its tiny rustic carriage… gate and gravel
sweep in front； and lawn enough for a tennis…court behind； which lines the
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road leading over the hill to the railway… station。
I could certainly have wished that our landlord； shortly after giving us
the agreement； could have found some other place to hang himself in than
one of our attics； for the consequence was that a housemaid left us in
violent hysterics about every two months； having learned the tragedy from
the tradespeople； and naturally 〃seen a somethink〃 immediately afterward。
Still it is a pleasant house； and I can now almost forgive the landlord
for what I shall always consider an act of gross selfishness on his part。
In the country； even so near town； a next…door neighbor is something
more than a mere numeral； he is a possible acquaintance； who will at least
consider a new…comer as worth