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James's Park； as their hoops tell me； and she ought to look
crushed and faded。 No doubt her mistress overworks her。 It must
enrage the other servants to see her deporting herself as if she
were quite the lady。
I noticed that she had sometimes other letters to post； but that
the posting of the one only was a process。 They shot down the
slit； plebeians all； but it followed pompously like royalty。 I
have even seen her blow a kiss after it。
Then there was her ring； of which she was as conscious as if it
rather than she was what came gaily down the street。 She felt it
through her glove to make sure that it was still there。 She took
off the glove and raised the ring to her lips； though I doubt not
it was the cheapest trinket。 She viewed it from afar by
stretching out her hand； she stooped to see how it looked near
the ground； she considered its effect on the right of her and on
the left of her and through one eye at a time。 Even when you saw
that she had made up her mind to think hard of something else；
the little silly would take another look。
I give anyone three chances to guess why Mary was so happy。
No and no and no。 The reason was simply this； that a lout of a
young man loved her。 And so； instead of crying because she was
the merest nobody； she must； forsooth； sail jauntily down Pall
Mall； very trim as to her tackle and ticketed with the
insufferable air of an engaged woman。 At first her complacency
disturbed me； but gradually it became part of my life at two
o'clock with the coffee； the cigarette； and the liqueur。 Now
comes the tragedy。
Thursday is her great day。 She has from two to three every
Thursday for her very own； just think of it： this girl； who is
probably paid several pounds a year； gets a whole hour to herself
once a week。 And what does she with it？ Attend classes for
making her a more accomplished person？ Not she。 This is what
she does： sets sail for Pall Mall； wearing all her pretty things；
including the blue feathers； and with such a sparkle of
expectation on her face that I stir my coffee quite fiercely。 On
ordinary days she at least tries to look demure； but on a
Thursday she has had the assurance to use the glass door of the
club as a mirror in which to see how she likes her engaging
trifle of a figure to…day。
In the meantime a long…legged oaf is waiting for her outside the
post…office； where they meet every Thursday； a fellow who always
wears the same suit of clothes； but has a face that must ever
make him free of the company of gentlemen。 He is one of your
lean； clean Englishmen； who strip so well； and I fear me he is
handsome； I say fear； for your handsome men have always annoyed
me； and had I lived in the duelling days I swear I would have
called every one of them out。 He seems to be quite unaware that
he is a pretty fellow； but Lord； how obviously Mary knows it。 I
conclude that he belongs to the artistic classes； he is so easily
elated and depressed； and because he carries his left thumb
curiously； as if it were feeling for the hole of a palette； I
have entered his name among the painters。 I find pleasure in
deciding that they are shocking bad pictures； for obviously no
one buys them。 I feel sure Mary says they are splendid； she is
that sort of woman。 Hence the rapture with which he greets her。
Her first effect upon him is to make him shout with laughter。 He
laughs suddenly haw from an eager exulting face； then haw again；
and then； when you are thanking heaven that it is at last over；
comes a final haw； louder than the others。 I take them to be
roars of joy because Mary is his； and they have a ring of youth
about them that is hard to bear。 I could forgive him everything
save his youth； but it is so aggressive that I have sometimes to
order William testily to close the window。
How much more deceitful than her lover is the little nursery
governess。 The moment she comes into sight she looks at the
post… office and sees him。 Then she looks straight before her；
and now she is observed； and he rushes across to her in a glory；
and she startspositively startsas if he had taken her by
surprise。 Observe her hand rising suddenly to her wicked little
heart。 This is the moment when I stir my coffee violently。 He
gazes down at her in such rapture that he is in everybody's way；
and as she takes his arm she gives it a little squeeze； and then
away they strut； Mary doing nine…tenths of the talking。 I fall
to wondering what they will look like when they grow up。
What a ludicrous difference do these two nobodies make to each
other。 You can see that they are to be married when he has
twopence。
Thus I have not an atom of sympathy with this girl； to whom
London is famous only as the residence of a young man who
mistakes her for someone else； but her happiness had become part
of my repast at two P。M。； and when one day she walked down Pall
Mall without gradually posting a letter I was most indignant。 It
was as if William had disobeyed orders。 Her two charges were as
surprised as I； and pointed questioningly to the slit； at which
she shook her head。 She put her finger to her eyes； exactly like
a sad baby； and so passed from the street。
Next day the same thing happened； and I was so furious that I bit
through my cigarette。 Thursday came； when I prayed that there
might be an end of this annoyance； but no； neither of them
appeared on that acquainted ground。 Had they changed their post…
office？ No； for her eyes were red every day； and heavy was her
foolish little heart。 Love had put out his lights； and the
little nursery governess walked in darkness。
I felt I could complain to the committee。
Oh； you selfish young zany of a man； after all you have said to
her； won't you make it up and let me return to my coffee？ Not
he。
Little nursery governess； I appeal to you。 Annoying girl； be
joyous as of old during the five minutes of the day when you are
anything to me； and for the rest of the time； so far as I am
concerned； you may be as wretched as you list。 Show some
courage。 I assure you he must be a very bad painter； only the
other day I saw him looking longingly into the window of a cheap
Italian restaurant； and in the end he had to crush down his
aspirations with two penny scones。
You can do better than that。 Come； Mary。
All in vain。 She wants to be loved； can't do without love from
morning till night； never knew how little a woman needs till she
lost that little。 They are all like this。
Zounds； madam； if you are resolved to be a drooping little figure
till you die； you might at least do it in another street。
Not only does she maliciously depress me by walking past on
ordinary days； but I have discovered that every Thursday from two
to three she stands afar off； gazing hopelessly at the romantic
post…office where she and he shall meet no more。 In these windy
days she is like a homeless lea