OrientationsMaugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
General
Orientations
Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
Fiction; Short stories, English
Mrs Clinton groaned.
'Oh, you're dotty!... I can understand giving a threepenny bit, or even
sixpence, at the offertory on Sunday at church, and of course one 'as to
give Christmas-boxes to the tradesmen; but to give your whole salary
away! 'Aven't you got anything left?'
'No!'
'You--you aggravating fool! And I'll be bound you gave it to lazy
loafers and tramps and Lord knows what!'
Mr Clinton did not answer; his wife walked rapidly backwards and
forwards, wringing her hands.
'Well, look here, James,' she said at last. 'It's no use crying over
spilt milk; but from this day you just give me your salary the moment
you receive it. D'you hear? I tell you I will not 'ave any more of your
nonsense.'
'I shall get no more salaries,' he quietly remarked.
Mrs Clinton looked at him; he was quite calm, and smilingly returned
her glance.
'What do you mean by that?' she asked.
'I am no longer at the office.'
'James! You 'aven't been sacked?' she screamed.
'Oh, they said I did not any longer properly attend to my work. They
said I was careless, and that I made mistakes; they complained that I
was unpunctual, that I went late and came away early; and one day,
because I 'adn't been there the day before, they told me to leave. I was
watching at the bedside of a man who was dying and 'ad need of me; so
'ow could I go? But I didn't really mind; the office 'indered me in my
work.'
'But what are you going to do now?' gasped Mrs Clinton.
'I 'ave my work; that is more important than ten thousand offices.'
'But 'ow are you going to earn your living? What's to become of us?'
'Don't trouble me about those things. Come with me, and work for the
poor.'
'James, think of the children!'
'What are your children to me more than any other children?'
'But--'
'Woman, I tell you not to trouble me about these things. 'Ave we not
money enough, and to spare?'
He waved his hand, and putting on his top hat, which looked more than
ever in need of restoration, went out, leaving his wife in a perfect
agony.
There was worse to follow. Coming home a few days later, Mr Clinton told
his wife that he wished to speak with her.
'I 'ave been looking into my books,' he said, 'and I find that we have
invested in various securities a sum of nearly seven 'undred pounds.'
'Thank 'Eaven for that!' answered his wife. 'It's the only thing that'll
save us from starvation now that you moon about all day, instead of
working like a decent man.'
'Well, I 'ave been thinking, and I 'ave been reading; and I 'ave found
it written--Give all and follow me.'
'Well, there's nothing new in that,' said Mrs Clinton, viciously. 'I've
known that text ever since I was a child.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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