I heard him gulp, but not to my reprimand. He was scanning the street. His hands chattered on my shoulder, and, pushing him from me, I saw that his mouth was agape.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
He stared at me, and then, like one who had at last heard the echo of 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! I--I 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, he--the 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 was--I--I 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, and--and you see, she has had a baby lately--""William!"
"And she--I--the 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 wife--it 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; "but--but 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, she--she a sort of cried because she was so proud of it. That was eight years ago, and now--she's afeard she'll die when I'm away at my work.""Did she tell you that?"