Page 75 - The English Carnival 7

‘Then why don’t you take it, madam,’ he said. ‘It
cost me over twenty pounds, I promise you.

But now it’s of no importance so long as I can
get home and rest these old legs of mine.’

I saw my mother’s hand feeling for the clasp
of her purse. She saw me watching her. I
was giving her one of my own frosty-nosed
looks this time and she knew exactly what
I was telling her. Now listen, mummy,

I was telling her, you simply mustn’t
take advantage of a tired old man in

this way. It’s a rotten thing to do. My
mother paused and looked back at me.
Then she said to the little man, ‘I don’t
think it’s quite right that.

I should take an umbrella from you worth
twenty pounds. I think I’d better just give

you the taxi-fare and be done with it.’

‘No, no no!’ he cried. ‘It’s out of the question! I wouldn’t dream of it!
Not in a million years! I would never accept money from you like that!

Take the umbrella, dear lady, and keep the rain off your shoulders!’

My mother gave me a triumphant sideways look. There you are, she was telling me.

You’re wrong. He wants me to have it.

She fished into her purse and took out a pound note. She held it out to the little man.
He took it and handed her the umbrella. He pocketed the pound, raised his hat, gave
a quick bow from the waist, and said,

‘Thank you, madam, thank you.’ Then he was gone.

‘Come under here and keep dry, darling,’ my mother said. ‘Aren’t we lucky. I’ve never
had a silk umbrella before. I couldn’t afford it.’

‘Why were you so horrid to him in the b eginning?’ I asked. What y
What you Think?ou Think?
‘I wanted to satisfy myself he wasn’t a trickster,’ she said. Why was the mother
‘And I did. horrid to the old man
in the beginning ?
He was a gentleman. I’m very pleased I was able to help
him.’

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The Englsih Carnival-8