Free Merry Go Round by W. Somerset Maugham Page B

that he would be discreet to use greater politeness, when Jenny's eyes stopped him. Without a word she gave the clerk what he asked for, and the three of them remained silent.
    Presently the newcomer finished his liquor and lit a cigarette. He glanced suspiciously at Basil, and opened his mouth to make an observation, but catching the other's steady look, thought better of it.
    'Good night then,' he said to Jenny.
    When he was gone Basil asked her why she had not thrown him over; it would have been better than to vex her lover.
    'I don't care,' cried Jenny; 'I'm about sick of the airs he
gives himself. I'm not married to him yet, and if he won't let me do as I like now he can just take himself off.'
    They dined at a restaurant in Soho, and Basil, in high spirits over the little adventure, was amused with the girl's delight. It did his heart good to cause such pleasure, and perhaps his satisfaction was not lessened by the attention which Jenny's comeliness attracted. She was rather shy, but when Basil strove to entertain her laughed very prettily and flushed: the idea came to him that he would much like to be of use to her, for she seemed to have a very agreeable nature; he might give her new ideas and a view of the beauty of life which she had never known. She wore a hat, and he morning dress, so they took seats in the back-row of the dress circle at the Gaiety; but even this was unwonted luxury to Jenny, accustomed to the pit or the upper boxes. At the end of the performance she turned to him with dancing eyes.
    'Oh, I have enjoyed myself,' she cried. 'I like going out with you much more than with Tom; he's always trying to save money.'
    They took a cab to the Golden Crown, where Jenny shared a room with the other barmaid.
    'Will you come out with me again?' asked Basil.
    'Oh, I should love to. You're so different from the other men who come to the bar. You're a gentleman, and you treat me – as if I was a lady. That's why I first liked you, because you didn't go on as if I was a lump of dirt: you always called me Miss Bush ...'
    'I'd much rather call you Jenny.'
    'Well, you may,' she answered, smiling and blushing. 'All those fellows who hang about the bar think they can do anything with me. You never tried to kiss me like they do.'
    'It's not because I didn't want to, Jenny,' answered Basil, laughing.
    She made no reply, but looked at him with smiling mouth and tender eyes; he would have been a fool not to recognize the invitation. He slipped his arm round her waist and touched her lips, but he was astonished at the frank surrender with which she received his embrace, and the fugitive pressure turned
into a kiss so passionate that Basil's limbs tingled. The cab stopped at the Golden Crown, and he helped her out.
    'Good night.'
    Next day, when he went to the public-house, Jenny blushed deeply, but she greeted him with a quiet intimacy which in his utter loneliness was very gratifying. It caused him singular content that someone at last took an interest in him. Freedom is all very well, but there are moments when a man yearns for someone to whom his comings and goings, his health or illness, are not matters of complete indifference.
    'Don't go yet,' said Jenny; 'I want to tell you something.'
    He waited till the bar was clear.
    'I've broken off my engagement with Tom,' she said then. 'He waited on the other side of the street last night and saw us go out together. And this morning he came in and rounded on me. I told him if he didn't like it he could lump it. And then he got nasty, and I told him I wouldn't have anything more to do with him.'
    Basil looked at her for a moment silently.
    'But aren't you fond of him, Jenny?'
    'No; I can't bear the sight of him. I used to like him well enough, but it's different now. I'm glad to be rid of him.'
    Basil could not help knowing it was on his account that she had broken off the engagement. He felt a curious thrill of power, and his heart beat with elation and pride, but at the same