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were twisted sideways and apart； showing his semi…toothless mouth；
and his eyes had that aged look of eyes in which all colour runs into
a thin rim round the iris； and over them kept coming films like the
films over parrots' eyes。 He was； or should have been； clean…shaven。
His hairfor he had taken off his hat was thick and lank； of dusty
colour； as far as could be seen； without a speck of grey； and parted
very beautifully just about the middle。
〃I can put up with that；〃 he said again。 〃I never interferes with
nobody； and nobody don't interfere with me； but what frightens me〃
his voice grew steady； as if too terrified to shake； is never knowin'
day to day what 's to become of yer。 Oh； that 'a dreadful； that is！〃
〃It must be；〃 answered Shelton。
〃Ah！ it is；〃 the old man said； 〃and the winter cumin' on。 I never
was much used to open air； bein' in domestic service all my life； but
I don't mind that so long as I can see my way to earn a livin'。
Well； thank God！ I've got a job at last〃； and his voice grew
cheerful suddenly。 〃Sellin' papers is not what I been accustomed to；
but the Westminister； they tell me that's one of the most respectable
of the evenin' papersin fact； I know it is。 So now I'm sure to get
on； I try hard。〃
〃How did you get the job？〃 asked Shelton。
〃I 've got my character；〃 the old fellow said； making a gesture with
a skinny hand towards his chest； as if it were there he kept his
character。
〃Thank God； nobody can't take that away！ I never parts from that〃；
and fumbling； he produced a packet； holding first one paper to the
light； and then another； and he looked anxiously at Shelton。 〃In
that house where I been sleepin' they're not honest； they 've stolen
a parcel of my thingsa lovely shirt an' a pair of beautiful gloves
a gentleman gave me for holdin' of his horse。 Now； would n't you
prosecute 'em； sir？〃
〃It depends on what you can prove。〃
〃I know they had 'em。 A man must stand up for his rights； that's
only proper。 I can't afford to lose beautiful things like them。 I
think I ought to prosecute； now； don't you； sir？〃
Shelton restrained a smile。
〃There！〃 said the old man； smoothing out a piece of paper shakily；
〃that's Sir George！〃 and his withered finger…tips trembled on the
middle of the page： 'Joshua Creed； in my service five years as
butler； during which time I have found him all that a servant should
be。' And this 'ere'he fumbled with another〃this 'ere 's Lady
Glengow ： 'Joshua Creed' I thought I'd like you to read 'em since
you've been so kind。〃
〃Will you have a pipe？〃
〃Thank ye； sir；〃 replied the aged butler； filling his clay from
Shelton's pouch； then； taking a front tooth between his finger and
his thumb； he began to feel it tenderly； working it to and fro with a
sort of melancholy pride。
〃My teeth's a…comin' out；〃 he said； 〃but I enjoys pretty good health
for a man of my age。〃
〃How old is that？〃
〃Seventy…two！ Barrin' my cough； and my rupture； and this 'ere
affliction〃he passed his hand over his face〃 I 've nothing to
complain of； everybody has somethink； it seems。 I'm a wonder for my
age； I think。〃
Shelton； for all his pity； would have given much to laugh。
〃Seventy…two！〃 he said； 〃yes； a great age。 You remember the country
when it was very different to what it is now？〃
〃Ah！〃 said the old butler； 〃there was gentry then； I remember them
drivin' down to Newmarket （my native place； sir） with their own
horses。 There was n't so much o' these here middle classes then。
There was more； too； what you might call the milk o' human kindness
in people thennone o' them amalgamated stores； every man keepin'
his own little shop； not so eager to cut his neighbour's throat； as
you might say。 And then look at the price of bread！ O dear！ why；
it is n't a quarter what it was！〃
〃And are people happier now than they were then？〃 asked Shelton。
The old butler sucked his pipe。
〃No；〃 he answered； shaking his old head； 〃they've lost the contented
spirit。 I see people runnin' here and runnin' there； readin' books；
findin' things out； they ain't not so self…contented as they were。〃
〃Is that possible？〃 thought Shelton。
〃No；〃 repeated the old man； again sucking at his pipe； and this time
blowing out a lot of smoke； 〃I don't see as much happiness about； not
the same look on the faces。 'T isn't likely。 See these 'ere motor…
cars； too； they say 'orses is goin' out〃； and； as if dumbfounded at
his own conclusion； he sat silent for some time； engaged in the
lighting and relighting of his pipe。
The girl at the far end stirred； cleared her throat； and settled down
again； her movement disengaged a scent of frowsy clothes。 The
policeman had approached and scrutinised these ill…assorted faces；
his glance was jovially contemptuous till he noticed Shelton； and
then was modified by curiosity。
〃There's good men in the police；〃 the aged butler said； when the
policeman had passed on〃 there's good men in the police； as good
men as you can see； and there 's them that treats you like the dirt
a dreadful low class of man。 Oh dear； yes！ when they see you down
in the world； they think they can speak to you as they like； I don't
give them no chance to worry me； I keeps myself to myself； and speak
civil to all the world。 You have to hold the candle to them； for； oh
dear！ if they 're crossedsome of themthey 're a dreadful
unscrup'lous lot of men！〃
〃Are you going to spend the night here？〃
〃It's nice and warm to…night；〃 replied the aged butler。 〃I said to
the man at that low place I said： 'Don't you ever speak to me again；'
I said； 'don't you come near me！' Straightforward and honest 's been
my motto all my life； I don't want to have nothing to say to them low
fellows〃he made an annihilating gesture〃after the way they
treated me； takin' my things like that。 Tomorrow I shall get a room
for three shillin's a week； don't you think so； sir？ Well； then I
shall be all right。 I 'm not afraid now； the mind at rest。 So long
as I ran keep myself； that's all I want。 I shall do first…rate； I
think〃； and he stared at Shelton； but the look in his eyes and the
half…scared optimism of his voice convinced the latter that he lived
in dread。 〃So long as I can keep myself；〃 he said again； 〃I sha'n't
need no workhouse nor lose respectability。〃
〃No；〃 thought Shelton； and for some time sat without a word。 〃When
you can；〃 he said at last； 〃come and see me； here's my card。〃
The aged butler became conscious with a jerk； for he was nodding。
〃Thank ye； sir； I will；〃 he said； with pitiful alacrity。 〃Down by
Belgravia？ Oh； I know it well； I lived down in them parts with a
gentleman of the name of Batesonperhaps you knew him； he 's dead
nowthe Honourable Bateson。 Thank ye； sir； I'll be sure to come〃；
and； snatching at his battered hat； he toilsomely secreted Shelton's
card amongst his character。 A minute