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the look of disgust and loathing。 The girl was the same； it was only
her body that had grown older。 I could see his eyes fixed upon my
arms and neck。 I had got to grow old in time； brown skinned； and
wrinkled。 I thought of him； growing bald； fat〃
〃If you had fallen in love with the right man；〃 had said Susan Fossett；
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〃those ideas would not have come to you。〃
〃I know；〃 said Miss Ramsbotham。 〃He will have to like me thin and
in these clothes； just because I am nice； and good company； and helpful。
That is the man I am waiting for。〃
He never came along。 A charming； bright…eyed； white…haired lady
occupies alone a little flat in the Marylebone Road； looks in occasionally
at the Writers' Club。 She is still Miss Ramsbotham。
Bald…headed gentlemen feel young again talking to her： she is so
sympathetic； so big…minded； so understanding。 Then； hearing the clock
strike； tear themselves from her with a sigh； and return homesome of
themto stupid shrewish wives。
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STORY THE FIFTH： Joey
Loveredge agreeson certain terms
to join the Company
The most popular member of the Autolycus Club was undoubtedly
Joseph Loveredge。 Small； chubby； clean…shaven； his somewhat longish；
soft； brown hair parted in the middle； strangers fell into the error of
assuming him to be younger than he really was。 It is on record that a
leading lady novelistaccepting her at her own estimateirritated by his
polite but firm refusal to allow her entrance into his own editorial office
without appointment； had once boxed his ears； under the impression that
he was his own office…boy。 Guests to the Autolycus Club； on being
introduced to him； would give to him kind messages to take home to his
father； with whom they remembered having been at school together。
This sort of thing might have annoyed anyone with less sense of humour。
Joseph Loveredge would tell such stories himself； keenly enjoying the
jestwas even suspected of inventing some of the more improbable。
Another fact tending to the popularity of Joseph Loveredge among all
classes； over and above his amiability； his wit； his genuine kindliness；
and his never…failing fund of good stories； was that by care and
inclination he had succeeded in remaining a bachelor。 Many had been
the attempts to capture him； nor with the passing of the years had
interest in the sport shown any sign of diminution。 Well over the
frailties and distempers so dangerous to youth； of staid and sober habits；
with an ever… increasing capital invested in sound securities； together with
an ever…increasing income from his pen； with a tastefully furnished
house overlooking Regent's Park； an excellent and devoted cook and
house…keeper； and relatives mostly settled in the Colonies； Joseph
Loveredge； though inexperienced girls might pass him by with a
contemptuous sniff； was recognised by ladies of maturer judgment as a
prize not too often dangled before the eyes of spinsterhood。 Old foxes…
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…so we are assured by kind…hearted country gentlemen rather enjoy
than otherwise a day with the hounds。 However that may be； certain it
is that Joseph Loveredge； confident of himself； one presumes； showed
no particular disinclination to the chase。 Perhaps on the whole he
preferred the society of his own sex； with whom he could laugh and jest
with more freedom； to whom he could tell his stories as they came to
him without the trouble of having to turn them over first in his own mind；
but； on the other hand； Joey made no attempt to avoid female company
whenever it came his way； and then no cavalier could render himself
more agreeable； more unobtrusively attentive。 Younger men stood by；
in envious admiration of the ease with which in five minutes he would
establish himself on terms of cosy friendship with the brilliant beauty
before whose gracious coldness they had stood shivering for months； the
daring with which he would tuck under his arm； so to speak； the prettiest
girl in the room； smooth down as if by magic her hundred prickles； and
tease her out of her overwhelming sense of her own self…importance。
The secret of his success was； probably； that he was not afraid of them。
Desiring nothing from them beyond companionableness； a reasonable
amount of appreciation for his jokeswhich without being exceptionally
stupid they would have found it difficult to withholdwith just sufficient
information and intelligence to make conversation interesting； there was
nothing about him by which they could lay hold of him。 Of course； that
rendered them particularly anxious to lay hold of him。 Joseph's lady
friends might； roughly speaking； be divided into two groups： the
unmarried； who wanted to marry him to themselves； and the married；
who wanted to marry him to somebody else。 It would be a social
disaster； the latter had agreed among themselves； if Joseph Loveredge
should never wed。
〃He would make such an excellent husband for poor Bridget。〃
〃Or Gladys。 I wonder how old Gladys really is？〃
〃Such a nice； kind little man。〃
〃And when one thinks of the sort of men that ARE married； it does
seem such a pity！〃
〃I wonder why he never has married； because he's just the sort of
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man you'd think WOULD have married。〃
〃I wonder if he ever was in love。〃
〃Oh； my dear； you don't mean to tell me that a man has reached the
age of forty without ever being in love！〃
The ladies would sigh。
〃I do hope if ever he does marry； it will be somebody nice。 Men
are so easily deceived。〃
〃I shouldn't be surprised myself a bit if something came of it with
Bridget。 She's a dear girl； Bridgetso genuine。〃
〃Well； I think myself； dear； if it's anyone； it's Gladys。 I should be so
glad to see poor dear Gladys settled。〃
The unmarried kept their thoughts more to themselves。 Each one；
upon reflection； saw ground for thinking that Joseph Loveredge had
given proof of feeling preference for herself。 The irritating thing was
that； on further reflection； it was equally clear that Joseph Loveredge had
shown signs of preferring most of the others。
Meanwhile Joseph Loveredge went undisturbed upon his way。 At
eight o'clock in the morning Joseph's housekeeper entered the room with
a cup of tea and a dry biscuit。 At eight…fifteen Joseph Loveredge
arose and performed complicated exercises on an indiarubber pulley；
warranted； if persevered in； to bestow grace upon the figure and
elasticity upon the limbs。 Joseph Loveredge persevered steadily； and
had done so for years； and was himself contented with the result； which；
seeing it concerned nobody else； was all that could be desired。 At half…
past eight on Mondays； Wednesdays； and Fridays； Joseph Loveredge
breakfasted on one cup of tea； brewed