Page 74 - The English Carnival 7

‘I should hope not,’ my mother said.

I felt quite embarrassed by my mother’s sharpness. I wanted to say to her, ‘Oh, mummy,
for heaven’s sake, he’s a very very old man, and sweet and polite, and he’s in some sort
of trouble, so don’t be so beastly to him.’ But I didn’t say anything.

The little man shifted his umbrella from one hand to the other. ‘I’ve never forgotten it

before,’ he said.
‘You’ve never forgotten what?’ my mother asked sternly.

‘My wallet,’ he said. ‘I must have left it in my other jacket. Isn’t that the silliest thing
to do?’

‘Are you asking me to give you money?’ my mother said.

‘Oh, good gracious me, not!’ he cried. ‘Heaven forbid I should ever do that!’
‘Then what are you asking?’ my mother said. ‘Do hurry up. We’re getting soaked to

the skin here.’

‘I know you are,’ he said. ‘And that is why I’m offering you this umbrella of mine to
protect you, and to keep forever, if . . . if only . . . ’

‘If only what?’ my mother said.

‘If only you would give me in return a pound for my taxi-fare just to get me home.’

My mother was still suspicious. ‘If you had no money in the first place,’ she said, ‘then
how did you get here?’

‘I walked,’ he answered. ‘Every day I go for a lovely long walk and then I summon a
taxi to get me home. I do it every day of the year.’

What you Think?ou Think?
’Why don’t you walk home now?’ my mother asked. What y
’Oh, I wish I could,’ he said. ’I do wish I could. But I don’t What did the old man
think I could manage it on these silly old legs of mine. I’ve ask for and why ?
gone too far already.’

My mother stood there chewing her lower lip. She was beginning to melt a bit, I could
see that. And the idea of getting an umbrella to shelter under must have tempted her

a good deal.
‘It’s a lovely umbrella,’ the little man said.

‘So I’ve noticed,’ my mother said.
‘It’s silk,’ he said.

‘I can see that.’

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