Читать книгу Slade - Warwick Deeping - Страница 15

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Mr. Slade went shopping, but even while Mr. Chignell was trying coats on him, James Slade was repeating to himself those fatal and unforgiving words, “You will not speak to the child.” Was she indeed his child? Or had Clara been guilty of some indiscretion? So far as he could remember there had been no—— But, tut-tut, did dates and calculations matter? Even if Clara had in the desperate crisis he had imposed upon her, accepted more than sympathy from some other man, could he blame her? Yet, what an impossible condition was this! Was he to smile at the child, and be mute, and to refuse to answer her if she spoke to him? Clara had become too much the Queen Elizabeth, a woman whom her own servants regarded as an enemy. How many lies must have been fobbed off on good Queen Bess! Mr. Chignell, meanwhile, was running his hands over Mr. Slade’s collar and shoulders.

“That’s much better, sir. Quite a nice fit. Please look in the glass, sir.”

Mr. Slade glanced in the mirror, and saw his own poor sorrowful face and narrow shoulders. He thought that he looked a meagre little man, not the man who should have——

“Yes, that seems to fit me. How much?”

“Seventeen and six, sir. A very cheap coat.”

“I’ll take it.”

“Anything else to-day, sir?”

“No, thank you.”

Mr. Chignell wrapped up the coat and made cheerful conversation. Was Mr. Slade a visitor or a new resident? Ah, a resident. Good. Mr. Chignell handed over the parcel and the change, and hoped that he would see Mr. Slade again. He opened the door for him.

“Good day, sir, and thank you.”

Mr. Slade went in search of boots. He was rather sensitive about his socks. He suspected a hole over the right big toe, and was ready to apologize for it, but no hole was there, and Mr. Slade felt easier. He saved seven and sixpence on the boots, and found himself in the High Street with ten shillings in hand. Could he dare to buy a couple of new collars and a tie? And he possessed only two handkerchiefs. One would be in the wash, and the other in action. But if he had a cold? He did so dare, and felt quite a desperate devil, an absolute pirate. Rather nice to be able to shop like this. He would like to have bought Rose a box of chocolates, but such devilry would be much too desperate. Besides a few shillings in hand might be regarded as absolutely necessary. He returned to Caroline Terrace richer by four shillings, seven pence, three farthings. It was with satisfaction and mild pride that he hung up his new jacket, and put his collar and ties away, also four handkerchiefs. Almost he felt opulent. Thank Heaven it was summer and he would not need an overcoat as yet. If tips accumulated he might be able to afford an overcoat before the winter without having to play the suppliant to Clara.