She felt that she knew him well enoughnow to take
him into her confidence. In this place he could have been happy if only people would
let himalone. Thememory of that stupid dull debauch rolled back upon him withbeastly
vividness. But now it was precisely from decencythat he wanted to escape. And
anyway, its onlytill you get another job.
It seemed quite natural to Ravelston to waste
several days ingetting Gordon out of his scrape.
But of course, in his inmost heart, he didnt really
like havingGordon there.
Mr Cheeseman was perhaps
faintlydisappointed.
He even detected agleam of professional jealousy in
one or two of the hangers-on ofAntichrist.
If he had answered it would have been witha stream
of obscenities.
He had heard about Gordonfrom Mr McKechnie, whom he
had met at an auction a few daysearlier. Youre going to stay here till youve found
another job. Mrs Beaver, the charwoman,had also seen through Gordon.
And for Gods sake dont talk aboutSPONGING on
me.
And in a way this job was what he wanted; at any
rate, it wassomething near what he wanted. There was a tension between them all the
time. But in the end, unexpectedly and through no effort of his own,Gordon did get a
job. You will pay five pounds or go to prison for fourteen days. All you got was a
cup of tea and twoslices of bread and marg.
But it was she who had made the first movement, not
he. All you got was a cup of tea and twoslices of bread and marg.
Her long thin back as she bentover the tea-caddy;
her good, goose-like, defeated face. But of course, in his inmost heart, he didnt
really like havingGordon there.
Gordon did not leave the flat next morning. For he
was ruined right enough, there was nodoubt about that. As he held her there, one
handmechanically caressing her shoulder, his main feeling was boredom. Ravelston
produced from his coat pocket a folded copy of a bi-weekly paper. How easy it ought
to be, since there are so fewcompetitors!
He was a youth ofeighteen who had stabbed his tart
in the belly, and she was notexpected to live.
If he had answered it would have been witha stream
of obscenities. In this place he could have been happy if only people would let
himalone.
She had a loving manner towards anything in
trousers.
But as for this business of getting a job, it was
hopeless from thestart.
With Mr Cheesemanit was the other way
about.
Ravelston said that the drunkenness seemedto anger
him in a way that was peculiar.
Nothing could have exceeded Ravelstons delicacy.
Life had beaten him; but youcan still beat life by turning your face away.