Chapter 102

AthelnytoldPhilipthathecouldeasilygethimsomethingtodointhelargefirmoflinendrapersinwhichhimselfworked.Severaloftheassistantshadgonetothewar,andLynnandSedleywithpatrioticzealhadpromisedtokeeptheirplacesopenforthem.Theyputtheworkoftheheroesonthosewhoremained,andsincetheydidnotincreasethewagesofthesewereableatoncetoexhibitpublicspiritandeffectaneconomy;butthewarcontinuedandtradewaslessdepressed;theholidayswerecoming,whennumbersofthestaffwentawayforafortnightatatime:theywereboundtoengagemoreassistants.Philip’sexperiencehadmadehimdoubtfulwhethereventhentheywouldengagehim;butAthelny,representinghimselfasapersonofconsequenceinthefirm,insistedthatthemanagercouldrefusehimnothing.Philip,withhistraininginParis,wouldbeveryuseful;itwasonlyamatterofwaitingalittleandhewasboundtogetawell-paidjobtodesigncostumesanddrawposters.PhilipmadeaposterforthesummersaleandAthelnytookitaway.Twodayslaterhebroughtitback,sayingthatthemanageradmireditverymuchandregrettedwithallhisheartthattherewasnovacancyjusttheninthatdepartment.Philipaskedwhethertherewasnothingelsehecoulddo.

“I’mafraidnot.”

“Areyouquitesure?”

“Well,thefactisthey’readvertisingforashop-walkertomorrow,”saidAthelny,lookingathimdoubtfullythroughhisglasses.

“D’youthinkIstandanychanceofgettingit?”

Athelnywasalittleconfused;hehadledPhiliptoexpectsomethingmuchmoresplendid;ontheotherhandhewastoopoortogoonprovidinghimindefinitelywithboardandlodging.

“Youmighttakeitwhileyouwaitforsomethingbetter.Youalwaysstandabetterchanceifyou’reengagedbythefirmalready.”

“I’mnotproud,youknow,”smiledPhilip.

“Ifyoudecideonthatyoumustbethereataquartertoninetomorrowmorning.”

Notwithstandingthewartherewasevidentlymuchdifficultyinfindingwork,forwhenPhilipwenttotheshopmanymenwerewaitingalready.Herecognisedsomewhomhehadseeninhisownsearching,andtherewasonewhomhehadnoticedlyingabouttheparkintheafternoon.ToPhilipnowthatsuggestedthathewasashomelessashimselfandpassedthenightoutofdoors.Themenwereofallsorts,oldandyoung,tallandshort;buteveryonehadtriedtomakehimselfsmartfortheinterviewwiththemanager:theyhadcarefullybrushedhairandscrupulouslycleanhands.TheywaitedinapassagewhichPhiliplearntafterwardsleduptothedining-hallandtheworkrooms;itwasbrokeneveryfewyardsbyfiveorsixsteps.Thoughtherewaselectriclightintheshopherewasonlygas,withwirecagesoveritforprotection,anditflarednoisily.Philiparrivedpunctually,butitwasnearlyteno’clockwhenhewasadmittedintotheoffice.Itwasthree-cornered,likeacutofcheeselyingonitsside:onthewallswerepicturesofwomenincorsets,andtwoposter-proofs,oneofamaninpyjamas,greenandwhiteinlargestripes,andtheotherofashipinfullsailploughinganazuresea:onthesailwasprintedinlargeletters‘greatwhitesale.’Thewidestsideoftheofficewasthebackofoneoftheshop-windows,whichwasbeingdressedatthetime,andanassistantwenttoandfroduringtheinterview.Themanagerwasreadingaletter.Hewasafloridman,withsandyhairandalargesandymoustache;fromthemiddleofhiswatch-chainhungabunchoffootballmedals.Hesatinhisshirtsleevesatalargedeskwithatelephonebyhisside;beforehimweretheday’sadvertisements,Athelny’swork,andcuttingsfromnewspaperspastedonacard.HegavePhilipaglancebutdidnotspeaktohim;hedictatedalettertothetypist,agirlwhosatatasmalltableinonecorner;thenheaskedPhiliphisname,age,andwhatexperiencehehadhad.Hespokewithacockneytwanginahigh,metallicvoicewhichheseemednotablealwaystocontrol;Philipnoticedthathisupperteethwerelargeandprotruding;theygaveyoutheimpressionthattheywerelooseandwouldcomeoutifyougavethemasharptug.

“IthinkMr.Athelnyhasspokentoyouaboutme,”saidPhilip.

“Oh,youaretheyoungfellerwhodidthatposter?”

“Yes,sir.”

“Nogoodtous,youknow,notabitofgood.”

HelookedPhilipupanddown.HeseemedtonoticethatPhilipwasinsomewaydifferentfromthemenwhohadprecededhim.

“You’d‘avetogetafrockcoat,youknow.Isupposeyou‘aven’tgotone.Youseemarespectableyoungfeller.Isupposeyoufoundartdidn’tpay.”

Philipcouldnottellwhetherhemeanttoengagehimornot.Hethrewremarksathiminahostileway.

“Where’syourhome?”

“MyfatherandmotherdiedwhenIwasachild.”

“Iliketogiveyoungfellersachance.Many’stheoneI’vegiventheirchancetoandthey’remanagersofdepartmentsnow.Andthey’regratefultome,I’llsaythatforthem.TheyknowwhatIdoneforthem.Startatthebottomoftheladder,that’stheonlywaytolearnthebusiness,andthenifyousticktoitthere’snoknowingwhatitcanleadto.Ifyousuit,oneofthese

daysyoumayfindyourselfinapositionlikewhatmineis.Bearthatinmind,youngfeller.”

“I’mveryanxioustodomybest,sir,”saidPhilip.

Heknewthathemustputinthesirwheneverhecould,butitsoundedoddtohim,andhewasafraidofoverdoingit.Themanagerlikedtalking.Itgavehimahappyconsciousnessofhisownimportance,andhedidnotgivePhiliphisdecisiontillhehadusedagreatmanywords.

“Well,Idaresayyou’lldo,”hesaidatlast,inapompousway.“AnyhowIdon’tmindgivingyouatrial.”

“Thankyouverymuch,sir.”

“Youcanstartatonce.I’llgiveyousixshillingsaweekandyourkeep.Everythingfound,youknow;thesixshillingsisonlypocketmoney,todowhatyoulikewith,paidmonthly.StartonMonday.Isupposeyou’vegotnocauseofcomplaintwiththat.”

“No,sir.”

“HarringtonStreet,d’youknowwherethatis,ShaftesburyAvenue.That’swhereyousleep.Numberten,itis.YoucansleepthereonSundaynight,ifyoulike;that’sjustasyouplease,oryoucansendyourboxthereonMonday.”Themanagernodded:“Good-morning.”