The Little Nursery Governess

           AsIentertheclubsmoking-roomyouaretoconceiveDavidvanishingintonothingness,andthatitisanydaysixyearsagoattwointheafternoon.Iringforcoffee,cigarette,andcherrybrandy,andtakemychairbythewindow,justastheabsurdlittlenurserygovernesscomestrippingintothestreet.IalwaysfeelthatIhaverungforher.

           WhileIamliftingthecoffee-potcautiouslylestthelidfallintothecup,sheiscrossingtothepost-office;asIselecttheonesuitablelumpofsugarsheistakingsixlastlooksattheletter;withtheaidofWilliamIlightmycigarette,andnowsheisre-readingthedeliciousaddress.Iliebackinmychair,andbythistimeshehasdroppedtheletterdowntheslit.Itoywithmyliqueur,andsheislisteningtohearwhetherthepostalauthoritieshavecomeforherletter.Iscowlatafellow-memberwhohashadtheimpudencetoenterthesmoking-room,andhertwolittlechargesarepullingherawayfromthepost-office.WhenIlookoutatthewindowagainsheisgone,butIshallringforherto-morrowattwosharp.

           ShemusthavepassedthewindowmanytimesbeforeInoticedher.Iknownotwhereshelives,thoughIsupposeittobehardby.Sheistakingthelittleboyandgirl,whobullyher,totheSt.James’sPark,astheirhoopstellme,andsheoughttolookcrushedandfaded.Nodoubthermistressoverworksher.Itmustenragetheotherservantstoseeherdeportingherselfasifshewerequitethelady.

           Inoticedthatshehadsometimesotherletterstopost,butthatthepostingoftheoneonlywasaprocess.