Free Merry Go Round by W. Somerset Maugham Page A

before, Basil, instead of lunching in hall, went by chance into a tavern in Fleet Street, and there saw behind the bar a young girl whose extreme beauty at once attracted his attention. Her freshness was charming in that tawdry place, grey with London smoke notwithstanding the gaudiness of its decoration; and though not a man to gossip with barmaids over his refreshment, in this case he could not resist a commonplace remark. To this the girl answered rather saucily (a public-house is apparently an excellent school for repartee) and her bright smile gave a new witchery to the comely face. Interested and a little thrilled, for there was none on whom sheer beauty made a greater impression, Basil told Frank Hurrell, then resident physician at St Luke's, that he had found in Fleet Street of all places the loveliest woman in London. The
doctor laughed at his friend's enthusiasm, and one day when they were passing, Basil, to justify himself, insisted on going again to the Golden Crown. Then once or twice he went alone, and the barmaid, beginning to recognize him, gave a little friendly nod of greeting. Basil had ever something of a romantic fancy, and his quick imagination decked the pretty girl with whimsical conceits: he dignified her trade by throwing back the date, and seeing in her a neat-footed maid who gave sack to cavaliers and men-at-arms; she was Hebe pouring nectar for the immortal gods; and when he told her this with other fantastic inventions, the girl, though she did not altogether comprehend, reddened as the grosser compliments of the usual frequenters of the bar – accredited admirers – had no power to make her. Basil thought he had never seen anything more captivating than that blush.
    And then he began to visit the Golden Crown more frequently – at tea-time, when there were fewest people. The pair grew friendly; and they discussed the weather, the customers, and the news of the day. Basil found that half an hour passed very pleasantly in her company, and perhaps he was a little flattered because the barmaid set greater store on his society than on that of the other claimants to her attention. One afternoon, going somewhat later than usual, he was delighted with the bright look that lit her face like sunshine on his appearance.
    'I was afraid you weren't coming, Mr Kent.'
    By now she used his name, and hers he found was Jenny Bush.
    'Would you have minded if I hadn't?'
    'A bit'
    At that moment the second barmaid of the Golden Crown came to her.
    'It's your evening out tonight, isn't it, Jenny?'
    'Yes, it is.'
    'What are you going to do?'
    'I don't know,' said Jenny; 'I haven't made any plans.'
    A customer came in, and Jenny's friend shook hands with him.
    'Same as usual, I suppose?' she said.
    'Would you like to come to the play with me?' asked Basil lightly. 'We'll have a bit of dinner first, and then go wherever you like.'
    The suggestion flashed across his mind, and he spoke the words without thinking. Jenny's eyes sparkled with pleasure.
    'Oh, I should like it. Come and fetch me here at seven, will you?'
    But then came in a somewhat undersized young man, with obviously false teeth and a jaunty air. Basil vaguely knew that he was engaged to Jenny, and on most days he might be seen making sheep's eyes across the bar, and drinking innumerable whiskies-and-soda.
    'Coming out to dinner, Jenny?' he said. 'I'll stand you a seat at the Tivoli if you like.'
    'I'm afraid I can't tonight, Tom,' she answered, blushing slightly. 'I've made other arrangements.'
    'What arrangements?'
    'A friend has promised to take me to the theatre.'
    'Who's that?' answered the man, with an ugly look.
    'That's my business, isn't it?' answered Jenny.
    'Well, if you won't tell me, I'm off.'
    'I'm not stopping you, am I?'
    'Just give me a Scotch-and-soda, will you? And look sharp about it.'
    The man spoke impudently, wishing to remind Jenny that she was there to carry out his orders. Basil reddened, and with some sharpness was about to say