A Little Cloud

           EightyearsbeforehehadseenhisfriendoffattheNorthWallandwishedhimgodspeed.Gallaherhadgoton.Youcouldtellthatatoncebyhistravelledair,hiswell-cuttweedsuit,andfearlessaccent.Fewfellowshadtalentslikehisandfewerstillcouldremainunspoiledbysuchsuccess.Gallaher’sheartwasintherightplaceandhehaddeservedtowin.Itwassomethingtohaveafriendlikethat.

           LittleChandler’sthoughtseversincelunch-timehadbeenofhismeetingwithGallaher,ofGallaher’sinvitationandofthegreatcityLondonwhereGallaherlived.HewascalledLittleChandlerbecause,thoughhewasbutslightlyundertheaveragestature,hegaveonetheideaofbeingalittleman.Hishandswerewhiteandsmall,hisframewasfragile,hisvoicewasquietandhismannerswererefined.Hetookthegreatestcareofhisfairsilkenhairandmoustacheandusedperfumediscreetlyonhishandkerchief.Thehalf-moonsofhisnailswereperfectandwhenhesmiledyoucaughtaglimpseofarowofchildishwhiteteeth.

           AshesatathisdeskintheKing’sInnshethoughtwhatchangesthoseeightyearshadbrought.ThefriendwhomhehadknownunderashabbyandnecessitousguisehadbecomeabrilliantfigureontheLondonPress.Heturnedoftenfromhistiresomewritingtogazeoutoftheofficewindow.Theglowofalateautumnsunsetcoveredthegrassplotsandwalks.