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〃What are we doing after lunch？〃 asked the Commodore。
〃The next field；〃 said the host； 〃is pasture。 We line up along the
hedge； and drive that mustard towards the roots； there ought to be a
good few birds。〃
〃Shelton rose； and； crouching； stole softly to the gate：
〃On the twelfth； shootin' in two parties；〃 followed the voice of
Mabbey from the distance。
Whether from his walk or from his sleepless night； Shelton seemed to
ache in every limb； but he continued his tramp along the road。 He
was no nearer to deciding what to do。 It was late in the afternoon
when he reached Maidenhead； and； after breaking fast； got into a
London train and went to sleep。 At ten o'clock that evening he
walked into St。 James's Park and there sat down。
The lamplight dappled through the tired foliage on to these benches
which have rested many vagrants。 Darkness has ceased to be the
lawful cloak of the unhappy； but Mother Night was soft and moonless；
and man had not despoiled her of her comfort； quite。
Shelton was not alone upon the seat； for at the far end was sitting a
young girl with a red； round； sullen face； and beyond； and further
still； were dim benches and dim figures sitting on them； as though
life's institutions had shot them out in an endless line of rubbish。
〃Ah！〃 thought Shelton； in the dreamy way of tired people； 〃the
institutions are all right； it's the spirit that's all…〃
〃Wrong？〃 said a voice behind him； 〃why； of course！ You've taken the
wrong turn； old man。〃
He saw a policeman； with a red face shining through the darkness；
talking to a strange old figure like some aged and dishevelled bird。
〃Thank you； constable；〃 the old man said； 〃as I've come wrong I'll
take a rest。〃 Chewing his gums； he seemed to fear to take the
liberty of sitting down。
Shelton made room； and the old fellow took the vacant place。
〃You'll excuse me； sir； I'm sure；〃 he said in shaky tones； and
snatching at his battered hat； 〃I see you was a gentleman〃and
lovingly he dwelt upon the word〃would n't disturb you for the
world。 I'm not used to being out at night； and the seats do get so
full。 Old age must lean on something； you'll excuse me； sir； I 'm
sure。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Shelton gently。
〃I'm a respectable old man； really；〃 said his neighbour； 〃I never
took a liberty in my life。 But at my age； sir； you get nervous；
standin' about the streets as I been this last week； an' sleepin' in
them doss…housesOh； they're dreadful rough placesa dreadful rough
lot there！ Yes；〃 the old man said again； as Shelton turned to look
at him； struck by the real self…pity in his voice； 〃dreadful rough
places！〃
A movement of his head； which grew on a lean； plucked neck like that
of an old fowl； had brought his face into the light。 It was long；
and run to seed； and had a large； red nose； its thin； colourless lips
were twisted sideways and apart； showing his semi…toothless mouth；
and his eyes had that aged look of eyes in which all colour runs into
a thin rim round the iris； and over them kept coming films like the
films over parrots' eyes。 He was； or should have been； clean…shaven。
His hairfor he had taken off his hat was thick and lank； of dusty
colour； as far as could be seen； without a speck of grey； and parted
very beautifully just about the middle。
〃I can put up with that；〃 he said again。 〃I never interferes with
nobody； and nobody don't interfere with me； but what frightens me〃
his voice grew steady； as if too terrified to shake； is never knowin'
day to day what 's to become of yer。 Oh； that 'a dreadful； that is！〃
〃It must be；〃 answered Shelton。
〃Ah！ it is；〃 the old man said； 〃and the winter cumin' on。 I never
was much used to open air； bein' in domestic service all my life； but
I don't mind that so long as I can see my way to earn a livin'。
Well； thank God！ I've got a job at last〃； and his voice grew
cheerful suddenly。 〃Sellin' papers is not what I been accustomed to；
but the Westminister； they tell me that's one of the most respectable
of the evenin' papersin fact； I know it is。 So now I'm sure to get
on； I try hard。〃
〃How did you get the job？〃 asked Shelton。
〃I 've got my character；〃 the old fellow said； making a gesture with
a skinny hand towards his chest； as if it were there he kept his
character。
〃Thank God； nobody can't take that away！ I never parts from that〃；
and fumbling； he produced a packet； holding first one paper to the
light； and then another； and he looked anxiously at Shelton。 〃In
that house where I been sleepin' they're not honest； they 've stolen
a parcel of my thingsa lovely shirt an' a pair of beautiful gloves
a gentleman gave me for holdin' of his horse。 Now； would n't you
prosecute 'em； sir？〃
〃It depends on what you can prove。〃
〃I know they had 'em。 A man must stand up for his rights； that's
only proper。 I can't afford to lose beautiful things like them。 I
think I ought to prosecute； now； don't you； sir？〃
Shelton restrained a smile。
〃There！〃 said the old man； smoothing out a piece of paper shakily；
〃that's Sir George！〃 and his withered finger…tips trembled on the
middle of the page： 'Joshua Creed； in my service five years as
butler； during which time I have found him all that a servant should
be。' And this 'ere'he fumbled with another〃this 'ere 's Lady
Glengow ： 'Joshua Creed' I thought I'd like you to read 'em since
you've been so kind。〃
〃Will you have a pipe？〃
〃Thank ye； sir；〃 replied the aged butler； filling his clay from
Shelton's pouch； then； taking a front tooth between his finger and
his thumb； he began to feel it tenderly； working it to and fro with a
sort of melancholy pride。
〃My teeth's a…comin' out；〃 he said； 〃but I enjoys pretty good health
for a man of my age。〃
〃How old is that？〃
〃Seventy…two！ Barrin' my cough； and my rupture； and this 'ere
affliction〃he passed his hand over his face〃 I 've nothing to
complain of； everybody has somethink； it seems。 I'm a wonder for my
age； I think。〃
Shelton； for all his pity； would have given much to laugh。
〃Seventy…two！〃 he said； 〃yes； a great age。 You remember the country
when it was very different to what it is now？〃
〃Ah！〃 said the old butler； 〃there was gentry then； I remember them
drivin' down to Newmarket （my native place； sir） with their own
horses。 There was n't so much o' these here middle classes then。
There was more； too； what you might call the milk o' human kindness
in people thennone o' them amalgamated stores； every man keepin'
his own little shop； not so eager to cut his neighbour's throat； as
you might say。 And then look at the price of bread！ O dear！ why；
it is n't a quarter what it was！〃
〃And are people happier now than they were then？〃 asked Shelton。
The old butler sucked his pipe。
〃No；〃 he answered； shaking his old head； 〃they've lost the contented
spirit。 I see people runnin' here and runnin' there； readin' books；
findin' things out； they ain't not so self…contented as they were。〃
〃Is that possible？〃 thought Shelton。
〃No；〃 repeated the old man； again sucking at his pipe； and this time
blowing out a lot of smoke； 〃I don't see as much happiness about； not
the same look on the faces。 'T isn't likely。 See these 'ere motor…
cars； too； they say 'orses is goin' out〃； and； as if dumbfounded at
his own conclusion； he sat silent for some time； engaged in the
lighting and relighting of his pipe。
The girl at the far end stirred； cleared her throat； and settled down
again； her movement disengaged a scent of frowsy clothes。 The
policeman had approached and scrutinised these ill…assorted faces；
his glance was jovially contemptuous till he noticed Shelton； and
then was modified by curiosity。
〃There's good men in the police；〃 the aged butler said； when the
policeman had passed on〃 there's good men in the police； as good
men as you can see； and there 's them that treats you like the dirt
a dreadful low class of man。 Oh dear； yes！ when they see you down
in the world； they think they can speak to you as they like； I don't
give them no chance to worry me； I keeps myself to myself； and speak
civil to all the world。 You have to hold the candle to them； for； oh
dear！ if they 're crossedsome of themthey 're a dreadful
unscrup'lous lot of men！〃
〃Are you going to spend the night here？〃
〃It's nice and warm to…night；〃 replied the aged butler。 〃I said to
the man at that low place I said： 'Don't you ever speak to me again；'
I said； 'don't you come near me！' Straightforward and honest 's been
my motto all my life； I don't want to have nothing to say to them low
fellows〃he made an annihilating gesture〃after the way they
treated me； takin' my things like that。 Tomorrow I shall get a room
for three shillin's a week； don't you think so； sir？ Well； then I
shall be all right。 I 'm not afraid