Chapter CIV

by William Somerset Maugham

　　The social evenings took place on alternate Mondays. There was one at thebeginning of Philip's second week at Lynn's. He arranged to go with one ofthe women in his department."Meet 'em 'alf-way," she said, "same as I do."This was Mrs. Hodges, a little woman of five-and-forty, with badly dyedhair; she had a yellow face with a network of small red veins all over it,and yellow whites to her pale blue eyes. She took a fancy to Philip andcalled him by his Christian name before he had been in the shop a week."We've both known what it is to come down," she said.She told Philip that her real name was not Hodges, but she always referredto 'me 'usband Misterodges;" he was a barrister and he treated her simplyshocking, so she left him as she preferred to be independent like; but shehad known what it was to drive in her own carriage, dear--she calledeveryone dear--and they always had late dinner at home. She used to pickher teeth with the pin of an enormous silver brooch. It was in the form ofa whip and a hunting-crop crossed, with two spurs in the middle. Philipwas ill at ease in his new surroundings, and the girls in the shop calledhim `sidey.' One addressed him as Phil, and he did not answer because hehad not the least idea that she was speaking to him; so she tossed herhead, saying he was a `stuck-up thing,' and next time with ironicalemphasis called him Mister Carey. She was a Miss Jewell, and she was goingto marry a doctor. The other girls had never seen him, but they said hemust be a gentleman as he gave her such lovely presents."Never you mind what they say, dear," said Mrs. Hodges. "I've 'ad to gothrough it same as you 'ave. They don't know any better, poor things. Youtake my word for it, they'll like you all right if you 'old your own sameas I 'ave."The social evening was held in the restaurant in the basement. The tableswere put on one side so that there might be room for dancing, and smallerones were set out for progressive whist."The 'eads 'ave to get there early," said Mrs. Hodges.She introduced him to Miss Bennett, who was the belle of Lynn's. She wasthe buyer in the `Petticoats,' and when Philip entered was engaged inconversation with the buyer in the `Gentlemen's Hosiery;' Miss Bennett wasa woman of massive proportions, with a very large red face heavilypowdered and a bust of imposing dimensions; her flaxen hair was arrangedwith elaboration. She was overdressed, but not badly dressed, in blackwith a high collar, and she wore black glace gloves, in which she playedcards; she had several heavy gold chains round her neck, bangles on herwrists, and circular photograph pendants, one being of Queen Alexandra;she carried a black satin bag and chewed Sen-sens."Please to meet you, Mr. Carey," she said. "This is your first visit toour social evenings, ain't it? I expect you feel a bit shy, but there's nocause to, I promise you that."She did her best to make people feel at home. She slapped them on theshoulders and laughed a great deal."Ain't I a pickle?" she cried, turning to Philip. "What must you think ofme? But I can't 'elp meself."Those who were going to take part in the social evening came in, theyounger members of the staff mostly, boys who had not girls of their own,and girls who had not yet found anyone to walk with. Several of the younggentlemen wore lounge suits with white evening ties and red silkhandkerchiefs; they were going to perform, and they had a busy, abstractedair; some were self-confident, but others were nervous, and they watchedtheir public with an anxious eye. Presently a girl with a great deal ofhair sat at the piano and ran her hands noisily across the keyboard. Whenthe audience had settled itself she looked round and gave the name of herpiece."A Drive in Russia."There was a round of clapping during which she deftly fixed bells to herwrists. She smiled a little and immediately burst into energetic melody.There was a great deal more clapping when she finished, and when this wasover, as an encore, she gave a piece which imitated the sea; there werelittle trills to represent the lapping waves and thundering chords, withthe loud pedal down, to suggest a storm. After this a gentleman sang asong called Bid me Good-bye, and as an encore obliged with Sing me toSleep. The audience measured their enthusiasm with a nice discrimination.Everyone was applauded till he gave an encore, and so that there might beno jealousy no one was applauded more than anyone else. Miss Bennettsailed up to Philip."I'm sure you play or sing, Mr. Carey," she said archly. "I can see it inyour face.""I'm afraid I don't.""Don't you even recite?""I have no parlour tricks."The buyer in the `gentleman's hosiery' was a well-known reciter, and hewas called upon loudly to perform by all the assistants in his department.Needing no pressing, he gave a long poem of tragic character, in which herolled his eyes, put his hand on his chest, and acted as though he were ingreat agony. The point, that he had eaten cucumber for supper, wasdivulged in the last line and was greeted with laughter, a little forcedbecause everyone knew the poem well, but loud and long. Miss Bennett didnot sing, play, or recite."Oh no, she 'as a little game of her own," said Mrs. Hodges."Now, don't you begin chaffing me. The fact is I know quite a lot aboutpalmistry and second sight.""Oh, do tell my 'and, Miss Bennett," cried the girls in her department,eager to please her."I don't like telling 'ands, I don't really. I've told people suchterrible things and they've all come true, it makes one superstitiouslike.""Oh, Miss Bennett, just for once."A little crowd collected round her, and, amid screams of embarrassment,giggles, blushings, and cries of dismay or admiration, she talkedmysteriously of fair and dark men, of money in a letter, and of journeys,till the sweat stood in heavy beads on her painted face."Look at me," she said. "I'm all of a perspiration."Supper was at nine. There were cakes, buns, sandwiches, tea and coffee,all free; but if you wanted mineral water you had to pay for it. Gallantryoften led young men to offer the ladies ginger beer, but common decencymade them refuse. Miss Bennett was very fond of ginger beer, and she dranktwo and sometimes three bottles during the evening; but she insisted onpaying for them herself. The men liked her for that."She's a rum old bird," they said, "but mind you, she's not a bad sort,she's not like what some are."After supper progressive whist was played. This was very noisy, and therewas a great deal of laughing and shouting, as people moved from table totable. Miss Bennett grew hotter and hotter."Look at me," she said. "I'm all of a perspiration."In due course one of the more dashing of the young men remarked that ifthey wanted to dance they'd better begin. The girl who had played theaccompaniments sat at the piano and placed a decided foot on the loudpedal. She played a dreamy waltz, marking the time with the bass, whilewith the right hand she `tiddled' in alternate octaves. By way of a changeshe crossed her hands and played the air in the bass."She does play well, doesn't she?" Mrs. Hodges remarked to Philip. "Andwhat's more she's never 'ad a lesson in 'er life; it's all ear."Miss Bennett liked dancing and poetry better than anything in the world.She danced well, but very, very slowly, and an expression came into hereyes as though her thoughts were far, far away. She talked breathlessly ofthe floor and the heat and the supper. She said that the Portman Rooms hadthe best floor in London and she always liked the dances there; they werevery select, and she couldn't bear dancing with all sorts of men youdidn't know anything about; why, you might be exposing yourself to youdidn't know what all. Nearly all the people danced very well, and theyenjoyed themselves. Sweat poured down their faces, and the very highcollars of the young men grew limp.Philip looked on, and a greater depression seized him than he rememberedto have felt for a long time. He felt intolerably alone. He did not go,because he was afraid to seem supercilious, and he talked with the girlsand laughed, but in his heart was unhappiness. Miss Bennett asked him ifhe had a girl."No," he smiled."Oh, well, there's plenty to choose from here. And they're very nicerespectable girls, some of them. I expect you'll have a girl before you'vebeen here long."She looked at him very archly."Meet 'em 'alf-way," said Mrs. Hodges. "That's what I tell him."It was nearly eleven o'clock, and the party broke up. Philip could not getto sleep. Like the others he kept his aching feet outside the bed-clothes.He tried with all his might not to think of the life he was leading. Thesoldier was snoring quietly.