And then, crossly: "Be
off with ye now!"
Reluctant boots on the stairs! Jos Myatt entered to me. He did not speak
at first; nor did I. He avoided my glance. He was still wearing the
cut-away coat with the line of mud up the back. I took out my watch, not
for the sake of information, but from mere nervousness, and the sight of
the watch reminded me that it would be prudent to wind it up.
"Better not forget that," I said, winding it.
"Ay!" said he, gloomily. "It's a tip." And he wound up his watch; a
large, thick, golden one.
This watch-winding established a basis of intercourse between us.
"I hope everything is going on all right," I murmured.
"What dun ye say?" he asked.
"I say I hope everything is going on all right," I repeated louder, and
jerked my head in the direction of the stairs, to indicate the place
from which he had come.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, as if surprised. "Now what'll ye have, mester?" He
stood waiting. "It's my call to-night."
I explained to him that I never took alcohol. It was not quite true, but
it was as true as most general propositions are.
"Neither me!" he said shortly, after a pause.
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