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my question； seemed to be brought back to the club。 He turned his face
from me for an instant； and answered shakily：
〃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。
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。
〃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 but the baby。 She is a neighbour's； she comes twice
a day。〃
〃It is heartless of her parents not to send her every hour。〃
〃But she is six years old；〃 he said； 〃and has a house and two sisters
to look after in the daytime； and a dinner to cook。 Gentlefolk don't
understand。〃
〃I suppose you live in some low part； William。〃
〃Off Drury Lane；〃 he answered； flushing； 〃butbut it isn't low。 You
see； we were never used to anything better； and I mind when I let her
see the house before we were married； sheshe a sort of cried because
she was so proud of it。 That was eight years ago； and nowshe's
afeard she'll die when I'm away at my work。〃
〃Did she tell you that？〃
〃Never； she always says she is feeling a little stronger。〃
〃Then how can you know she is afraid of that？〃
〃I don't know how I know； sir； but when I am leaving the house in the
morning I look at her from the door； and she looks at me； and then I
I know。〃
〃A green chartreuse； William！〃
I tried to forget William's vulgar story in billiards； but he had
spoiled my game。 My opponent； to whom I can give twenty； ran out when
I was sixty…seven； and I put aside my cue pettishly。 That in itself
was bad form； but what would they have thought had they known that a
waiter's impertinence caused it！ I grew angrier with William as the
night wore on； and next day I punished him by giving my orders through
another waiter。
As I had my window…seat； I could not but see that the girl was late
again。 Somehow I dawdled over my coffee。 I had an evening paper before
me； but there was so little in it that my eyes found more of interest
in the street。 It did not matter to me whether William's wife died；
but when that girl had promised to come； why did she not come？ These