Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky Read Online Free PDF

barmaid.
    ‘Ah – that would depend on the Lady Godiva, Ella,’ said Mr. Sounder. Another gleam portended gallantry. ‘Now if you , for instance. . . .’ Mr. Sounder could only conclude with a flourish of the hand.
    ‘Not me,’ said Ella. ‘Too cold.’
    ‘Ah – but your hair would keep you warm. Why don’t you grow it, like a sensible girl, Ella? I can assure you that it would increase your charms a thousandfold.’
    ‘Oh yes. I’m sure.’
    ‘Not that any increase is required,’ added Mr. Sounder, with a nice little leer.
    There was a pause.
    ‘Oh well – I don’t know,’ said Ella, staring dreamily into the distance, and relapsing, in a curious, and rather sweet way she had, from raillery into frankness. ‘We all have to keep up with the Fashion, don’t we?’
    There was heard a murmur of voices outside, and the door opened to a middle-aged couple, who did not go through to the lounge, but sat down at a table in the bar. Being seated they were within Bob’s province. He took his tray, went over to them, and met their eyes. The lady was doubtful, but at last decided on Guinness, and the gentleman wanted a Gin and It. Ella, hearing the order, got to work without Bob’s repeating it. Bob returned with the drinks on his tray, placed them on the table, took a half crown from the man, gave the change and received no tip. He had expected none, and returned to his newspaper. The lady, apparently, knew Ella.
    ‘Rather quiet to-night, aren’t you?’ she said.
    ‘Yes, we are, ain’t we?’ said Ella. ‘’Spect they’ll be in soon, though.’
    Mr. Sounder stood quietly observing the couple – possibly with an eye to getting off with them. His first investment was almost swallowed, and things were looking bad.
    But the door again creaked open, and a brisk man of fifty entered. This was Mr. Brooks – another habitué – the owner of a nondescript hardware store near by – a seller of pots, and pans, and kitchen accessories, and screws – particularly screws. He had a terrible squint. It was as though the screws had somehow gone to his brain, and his eyes were twisted in fanatical endeavours to follow their obscure gyrations. He looked intently at your left ear as he spoke to you, as though you had left some soap in it. But he gave Mr. Sounder a warm ‘Good evening,’ and spotted the soap and asked him what he would have simultaneously. Mr. Sounder would have another Burton, he thought. He caught Ella’s eye rather shamefacedly as he said so, and Ella pulled her levers with a touch of irony.
    At the same time three rough males had entered the PublicBar, and were talking in loud voices, and the Saloon door again creaked open, and another couple entered and went straight through into the lounge and sat down. They were followed by two men, who came and stood at the bar. With a sudden burst the place was awake.

C HAPTER V
    B OB’S NIGHTLY ASPIRATION was five shillings. He was a young man who kept a keen eye upon his finances, and a pound a week in tips he regarded as a peremptory necessity.
    It may be supposed that the amounts he received were dependent upon chance: but Bob did not believe this to be the case. He believed it possible, by energy, subtlety, and dexterity, to manipulate and augment the largesse of his customers. The great thing was always to have plenty of coppers. Sixpence change from two shillings, for instance, should almost invariably be proffered in this form. And they should not be put down in a lump, but counted out slowly one by one, so as to give the recipient full time in which to make his decision and expel a magnificent twopence, or even threepence, for the waiter. Bob, as a point of honour, would never hover. He took his defeats in the same spirit as his successes – with ‘Thankyouverymuchsir’ and instant withdrawal.
    Not that sixpence change from two shillings should invariably be submitted in the form of coppers. Sometimes it was wise to employ the silver coin, and