Chapter CII

by William Somerset Maugham

　　Athelny told Philip that he could easily get him something to do in thelarge firm of linendrapers in which himself worked. Several of theassistants had gone to the war, and Lynn and Sedley with patriotic zealhad promised to keep their places open for them. They put the work of theheroes on those who remained, and since they did not increase the wages ofthese were able at once to exhibit public spirit and effect an economy;but the war continued and trade was less depressed; the holidays werecoming, when numbers of the staff went away for a fortnight at a time:they were bound to engage more assistants. Philip's experience had madehim doubtful whether even then they would engage him; but Athelny,representing himself as a person of consequence in the firm, insisted thatthe manager could refuse him nothing. Philip, with his training in Paris,would be very useful; it was only a matter of waiting a little and he wasbound to get a well-paid job to design costumes and draw posters. Philipmade a poster for the summer sale and Athelny took it away. Two days laterhe brought it back, saying that the manager admired it very much andregretted with all his heart that there was no vacancy just then in thatdepartment. Philip asked whether there was nothing else he could do."I'm afraid not.""Are you quite sure?""Well, the fact is they're advertising for a shop-walker tomorrow," saidAthelny, looking at him doubtfully through his glasses."D'you think I stand any chance of getting it?"Athelny was a little confused; he had led Philip to expect something muchmore splendid; on the other hand he was too poor to go on providing himindefinitely with board and lodging."You might take it while you wait for something better. You always standa better chance if you're engaged by the firm already.""I'm not proud, you, know" smiled Philip."If you decide on that you must be there at a quarter to nine tomorrowmorning."Notwithstanding the war there was evidently much difficulty in findingwork, for when Philip went to the shop many men were waiting already. Herecognised some whom he had seen in his own searching, and there was onewhom he had noticed lying about the park in the afternoon. To Philip nowthat suggested that he was as homeless as himself and passed the night outof doors. The men were of all sorts, old and young, tall and short; butevery one had tried to make himself smart for the interview with themanager: they had carefully brushed hair and scrupulously clean hands.They waited in a passage which Philip learnt afterwards led up to thedining-hall and the work rooms; it was broken every few yards by five orsix steps. Though there was electric light in the shop here was only gas,with wire cages over it for protection, and it flared noisily. Philiparrived punctually, but it was nearly ten o'clock when he was admittedinto the office. It was three-cornered, like a cut of cheese lying on itsside: on the walls were pictures of women in corsets, and twoposter-proofs, one of a man in pyjamas, green and white in large stripes,and the other of a ship in full sail ploughing an azure sea: on the sailwas printed in large letters `great white sale.' The widest side of theoffice was the back of one of the shop-windows, which was being dressed atthe time, and an assistant went to and fro during the interview. Themanager was reading a letter. He was a florid man, with sandy hair and alarge sandy moustache; from the middle of his watch-chain hung a bunch offootball medals. He sat in his shirt sleeves at a large desk with atelephone by his side; before him were the day's advertisements, Athelny'swork, and cuttings from newspapers pasted on a card. He gave Philip aglance but did not speak to him; he dictated a letter to the typist, agirl who sat at a small table in one corner; then he asked Philip hisname, age, and what experience he had had. He spoke with a cockney twangin a high, metallic voice which he seemed not able always to control;Philip noticed that his upper teeth were large and protruding; they gaveyou the impression that they were loose and would come out if you gavethem a sharp tug."I think Mr. Athelny has spoken to you about me," said Philip."Oh, you are the young feller who did that poster?""Yes, sir.""No good to us, you know, not a bit of good."He looked Philip up and down. He seemed to notice that Philip was in someway different from the men who had preceded him."You'd 'ave to get a frock coat, you know. I suppose you 'aven't got one.You seem a respectable young feller. I suppose you found art didn't pay."Philip could not tell whether he meant to engage him or not. He threwremarks at him in a hostile way."Where's your home?""My father and mother died when I was a child.""I like to give young fellers a chance. Many's the one I've given theirchance to and they're managers of departments now. And they're grateful tome, I'll say that for them. They know what I done for them. Start at thebottom of the ladder, that's the only way to learn the business, and thenif you stick to it there's no knowing what it can lead to. If you suit,one of these days you may find yourself in a position like what mine is.Bear that in mind, young feller.""I'm very anxious to do my best, sir," said Philip.He knew that he must put in the sir whenever he could, but it sounded oddto him, and he was afraid of overdoing it. The manager liked talking. Itgave him a happy consciousness of his own importance, and he did not givePhilip his decision till he had used a great many words."Well, I daresay you'll do," he said at last, in a pompous way. "Anyhow Idon't mind giving you a trial.""Thank you very much, sir.""You can start at once. I'll give you six shillings a week and your keep.Everything found, you know; the six shillings is only pocket money, to dowhat you like with, paid monthly. Start on Monday. I suppose you've got nocause of complaint with that.""No, sir.""Harrington Street, d'you know where that is, Shaftesbury Avenue. That'swhere you sleep. Number ten, it is. You can sleep there on Sunday night,if you like; that's just as you please, or you can send your box there onMonday." The manager nodded: "Good-morning."