windrushing.
Shespenttenpenceonlunch.
"Dear,miss,she'sleftherumbrella,"grumbledthemottledwomanintheglassboxnearthedoorattheExpressDairyCompany'sshop.
"PerhapsI'llcatchher,"answeredMillyEdwards,thewaitresswiththepaleplaitsofhairandshedashedthroughthedoor.
"Nogood,"shesaid,comingbackamomentlaterwithFanny'scheapumbrella.Sheputherhandtoherplaits.
"Oh,thatdoor!"grumbledthecashier.
Herhandswerecasedinblackmittens,andthefinger-tipsthatdrewinthepaperslipswereswollenassausages.
"Pieandgreensforone.Largecoffeeandcrumpets.Eggsontoast.Twofruitcakes."
Thusthesharpvoicesofthewaitressessnapped.Thelunchersheardtheirordersrepeatedwithapprovalsawthenexttableservedwithanticipation.Theirowneggsontoastwereatlastdelivered.Theireyesstrayednomore.
Dampcubesofpastryfellintomouthsopenedliketriangularbags.
NellyJenkinson,thetypist,crumbledhercakeindifferentlyenough.Everytimethedooropenedshelookedup.Whatdidsheexpecttosee?
ThecoalmerchantreadtheTelegraphwithoutstopping,missedthesaucer,and,feelingabstractedly,putthecupdownonthetable-cloth.
"Didyoueverhearthelikeofthatforimpertinence?"Mrs.Parsonswoundup,brushingthecrumbsfromherfurs.
"Hotmilkandsconeforone.Potoftea.Rollandbutter,"criedthewaitresses.
Thedooropenedandshut.
Suchisthelifeoftheelderly.
Itiscurious,lyinginaboat,towatchthewaves.Herearethreecomingregularlyoneafteranother,allmuchofasize.Then,hurryingafterthemcomesafourth,verylargeandmenacingitliftstheboatonitgoessomehowmergeswithoutaccomplishinganythingflattensitselfoutwiththerest.
Whatcanbemoreviolentthantheflingofboughsinagale,thetreeyieldingitselfallupthetrunk,totheverytipofthebranch,streamingandshudderingthewaythewindblows,yetneverflyingindishevelmentaway?Thecornsquirmsandabasesitselfasifpreparingtotugitselffreefromtheroots,andyetistieddown.
Why,fromtheverywindows,eveninthedusk,youseeaswellingrunthroughthestreet,anaspiration,aswitharmsoutstretched,eyesdesiring,mouthsagape.Andthenwepeaceablysub