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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
lower classes only give their word to break it。 The coffee was
undrinkable。
At last I saw her。 William was at another window； pretending to do
something with the curtains。 I stood up； pressing closer to the
window。 The coffee had been so bad that I felt shaky。 She nodded three
times； and smiled。
〃She is a little better；〃 William whispered to me； almost gaily。
〃Whom are you speaking of？〃 I asked； coldly； and immediately retired
to the billiard…room； where I played a capital game。 The coffee was
much better there than in the dining…room。
Several days passed； and I took care to show William that I had
forgotten his maunderings。 I chanced to see the little girl （though I
never looked for her） every evening； and she always nodded three
times； save once； when she shook her head； and then William's face
grew white as a napkin。 I remember this incident because that night I
could not get into a pocket。 So badly did I play that the thought of
it kept me awake in bed； and that； again； made me wonder how William's
wife was。 Next day I went to the club early （which was not my custom）
to see the new books。 Being in the club at any rate； I looked into the
dining…room to ask William if I had left my gloves there； and the
sight of him reminded me of his wife； so I asked for her。 He shook his
head mournfully； and I went off in a rage。
So accustomed am I to the club that when I dine elsewhere I feel
uncomfortable next morning； as if I had missed a dinner。 William knew
this； yet here he was； hounding me out of the club！ That evening I
dined （as the saying is） at a restaurant； where no sauce was served
with the asparagus。 Furthermore； as if that were not triumph enough
for William； his doleful face came between me and every dish； and I
seemed to see his wife dying to annoy me。
I dined next day at the club for self…preservation； taking； however； a
table in the middle of the room； and engaging a waiter who had once
nearly poisoned me by not interfering when I put two lumps of sugar
into my coffee instead of one； which is my allowance。 But no William
came to me to acknowledge his humiliation； and by…and…by I became
aware that he was not in the room。 Suddenly the thought struck me that
his wife must be dead； and I It was the worst cooked and the worst
served dinner I ever had in the club。
I tried the smoking…room。 Usually the talk there is entertaining； but
on that occasion it was so frivolous that I did not remain five
minutes。 In the card…room a member told me excitedly that a policeman
had spoken rudely to him； and my strange comment was：
〃After all； it is a small matter。〃
In the library； where I had not been for years； I found two members
asleep； and； to my surprise； William on a ladder dusting books。
〃You have not heard； sir？〃 he said； in answer to my raised eyebrows。
Descending the ladder； he whispered tragically： 〃It was last evening；
sir。 II lost my head； and Iswore at a member。〃
I stepped back from William； and glanced apprehensively at the two
members。 They still slept。
〃I hardly knew；〃 William went on； 〃what I was doing all day yesterday；
for I had left my wife so weakly that〃
I stamped my foot。
〃I beg your pardon for speaking of her；〃 he had the grace to say； 〃but
I couldn't help slipping up to the window often yesterday to look for
Jenny； and when she did come； and I saw she was crying； itit sort of
confused me； and I didn't know right； sir； what I was doing。 I hit
against a member； Mr。 Myddleton Finch； and hehe jumped and swore at
me。 Well； sir； I had just touched him after all； and I was so
miserable； it a kind of stung me to be treated likelike that； and me
a man as well as him； and I lost my senses； andand I swore back。〃
William's shamed head sank on his chest； but I even let pass his
insolence in likening himself to a member of the club； so afraid was I
of the sleepers waking and