第69章

Primitivehabits-Rosy-faceddamsel-Apleasantmoment-Suitofblack-Thefurtiveglance-Themightyround-Degeneratetimes-

Thenewspaper-Theevilchance-Icongratulateyou。

’YOUNGgentleman，’saidthehugefatlandlord，’youarecomeattherighttime；dinnerwillbetakenupinafewminutes，andsuchadinner，’hecontinued，rubbinghishands，’asyouwillnotseeeverydayinthesetimes。’

’Iamhotanddusty，’saidI，’andshouldwishtocoolmyhandsandface。’

’Jenny!’saidthehugelandlord，withtheutmostgravity，’showthegentlemanintonumberseven，thathemaywashhishandsandface。’

’Bynomeans，’saidI，’Iamapersonofprimitivehabits，andthereisnothinglikethepumpinweatherlikethis。’

’Jenny，’saidthelandlord，withthesamegravityasbefore，’gowiththeyounggentlemantothepumpinthebackkitchen，andtakeacleantowelalongwithyou。’

Thereupontherosy-facedclean-lookingdamselwenttoadrawer，andproducingalarge，thick，butsnowywhitetowel，shenoddedtometofollowher；whereuponIfollowedJennythroughalongpassageintothebackkitchen。

Andattheendofthebackkitchentherestoodapump；andgoingtoitIplacedmyhandsbeneaththespout，andsaid，’Pump，Jenny’；

andJennyincontinently，withoutlayingdownthetowel，pumpedwithonehand，andIwashedandcooledmyheatedhands。

And，whenmyhandswerewashedandcooled，Itookoffmyneckcloth，and，unbuttoningmyshirtcollar，Iplacedmyheadbeneaththespoutofthepump，andIsaiduntoJenny，’Now，Jenny，laydownthetowel，andpumpforyourlife。’

ThereuponJenny，placingthetowelonalinen-horse，tookthehandleofthepumpwithbothhandsandpumpedovermyheadashandmaidhadneverpumpedbefore；sothatthewaterpouredintorrentsfrommyhead，myface，andmyhairdownuponthebrickfloor。

And，afterthelapseofsomewhatmorethanaminute，Icalledoutwithahalf-strangledvoice，’Hold，Jenny!’andJennydesisted。I

stoodforafewmomentstorecovermybreath，thentakingthetowelwhichJennyproffered，Idriedcomposedlymyhandsandhead，myfaceandhair；then，returningthetoweltoJenny，Igaveadeepsighandsaid，’Surelythisisoneofthepleasantmomentsoflife。’

Then，havingsetmydresstorights，andcombedmyhairwithapocketcomb，IfollowedJenny，whoconductedmebackthroughthelongpassage，andshowedmeintoaneatsandedparlourontheground-floor。

Isatdownbyawindowwhichlookedoutuponthedustystreet；

presentlyincamethehandmaid，andcommencedlayingthetable-

cloth。’ShallIspreadthetableforone，sir，’saidshe，’ordoyouexpectanybodytodinewithyou？’’Ican’tsaythatIexpectanybody，’saidI，laughinginwardlytomyself；’however，ifyoupleaseyoucanlayfortwo，sothatifanyacquaintanceofmineshouldchancetostepin，hemayfindaknifeandforkreadyforhim。’

SoIsatbythewindow，sometimeslookingoutuponthedustystreet，andnowglancingatcertainold-fashionedprintsw