The Observations of HenryJerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)
General
The Observations of Henry
Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)
England -- Social life and customs -- Fiction
"Well, he turned it over, and he took the job. He thought she'd relent
after the first week or two, but she didn't. He just kept that place for
over fifteen months, and learnt the business. In the house he was James
the boots, and she Mrs. Wrench the landlady, and she saw to it that he
didn't forget it. He had his wages and he made his tips, and the food
was plentiful; but I take it he worked harder during that time than he'd
ever worked before in his life, and found that a landlady is just twice
as difficult to please as the strictest landlord it can be a man's
misfortune to get under, and that Mrs. Wrench was no exception to the
rule.
"At the end of the fifteen months she sends for him into the office. He
didn't want telling by this time; he just stood with his hat in his hand
and waited respectful like.
"'James,' says she, after she had finished what she was doing, 'I find I
shall want another waiter for the coffee-room this season. Would you
care to try the place?'
"'Thank you, Mrs. Wrench,' he answers; 'it's more what I've been used to,
and I think I'll be able to give satisfaction.'
"'There's no wages attached, as I suppose you know,' continues she; 'but
the second floor goes with it, and if you know your business you ought to
make from twenty-five to thirty shillings a week.'
"Thank you, Mrs. Wrench; that'll suit me very well,' replies he; and it
was settled.
"He did better as a waiter; he'd got it in his blood, as you might say;
and so after a time he worked up to be head-waiter. Now and then, of
course, it came about that he found himself waiting on the very folks
that he'd been chums with in his classy days, and that must have been a
bit rough on him. But he'd taken in a good deal of sense since then; and
when one of the old sort, all rings and shirt-front, dining there one
Sunday evening, started chaffing him, Jimmy just shut him up with a
quiet: 'Yes, I guess we were both a bit out of our place in those days.
The difference between us now is that I have got back to mine,' which
cost him his tip, but must nave been a satisfaction to him.
"Altogether he worked in that hotel for some three and a half years, and
then Mrs. Wrench sends for him again into the office.
"'Sit down, James,' says she.
"'Thank you, Mrs. Wrench,' says James, and sat.
"'I'm thinking of giving up this hotel, James,' says she, 'and taking
another near Dover, a quiet place with just such a clientele as I shall
like. Do you care to come with me?'
"'Thank you,' says he, 'but I'm thinking, Mrs. Wrench, of making a change
myself.'
"'Oh,' says she, 'I'm sorry to hear that, James. I thought we'd been
getting on very well together.'
"'I've tried to do my best, Mrs. Wrench,' says he, 'and I hope as I've
given satisfaction.'
"'I've nothing to complain of, James,' says she.
"'I thank you for saying it,' says he, 'and I thank you for the
opportunity you gave me when I wanted it. It's been the making of me.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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