‘I’d a girl here this morning,’ Mrs Gandell said. ‘From The Labour.’
‘Oh! You never told me,’ and Jones put the tray on the sideboard and went to the table. ‘What girl?’
‘I’m telling you now. I liked her, she’s seventeen, and looks useful. She’s Welsh.’
‘Indeed.’
He picked up the tray and went out.
‘What a relief,’ thought Jones, seeing himself free at last from all that washing up, a new girl doing her duty. Nearly time, too.
Mrs Gandell sat up, smoked her cigarette, and thought of tomorrow. When he came back she had gone. He thought he heard her calling.
‘Calling, Mrs Gandell?’
‘I was calling.’
Jones stood on the stairs. ‘If she’s lying, if she sells over my head, I’ll cut her throat,’ and he went on up, found her sitting on the bed.
‘There ought to be a fire here, Mrs Gandell. And those curtains should be drawn. And the damned window still open,’ and he rushed across and closed it. Jones loved being shut in.
‘Tell me about the bank,’ he said.
‘I told you.’
He stood over her, and said, ‘Then tell me again, Mrs Gandell.’
‘I thought I was in the red, and I wasn’t. That’s all, Jones.’
‘I don’t quite understand you,’ he said.
‘Look in the cupboard.’
‘Well indeed,’ said Jones looking in, smiling. ‘When did this happen?’
‘This morning.’
‘Having one?’
‘Not now.’
‘Mind if I have one?’
‘Have one.’
‘Thanks,’ he said, and helped himself to a gin, after which he sat down beside her. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he said.
‘I can.’
He finished his drink, got up and went to the small chest of drawers, knelt down, and opened the bottom drawer.
‘Anything wrong, Jones?’
His reply was immediate, and quite sharp. ‘Not yet,’ he said, and put the glass down, and dived into the drawer.
‘Let the bitch wait,’ he thought; the ground still seemed uncertain under the Jones feet.
‘Tell me about The Palms.’
‘The Palms?’
‘What about it?’
‘Is something wrong, Jones?’
‘I don’t quite know. Is there?’
She lay back on the bed. ‘Aren’t you coming?’ she asked.
He turned on his knees, gave her a long penetrating look.
‘I’m thinking,’ he said.
‘Your thoughts’ll be much warmer over here,’ she said.
‘Shut up.’
She sat up at once. Was he trying to start a row?
