s.Mywomanstoppedtopassthetimeofday.

    Istoppedtoo,assoonasIcouldfindashopwindowwhichIcouldpretendtobelookinginto.Itlumber’sanddecorator’s,fullofsamplesofaperandbathroomfittingsandthings.BythistimeIwasn’tfifteenyardsawayfromtheothertwo.Icouldheartheirvoicesgawayihosemeaninglessversationsthatwomenhavewhenthey’rejustpassiimeofday.‘Yes,that’sjestaboutit.That’sjestwhereitis.Isaidtohimmyself,Isaid,“Well,whatelsedoyouexpect?”Isaid.Itdon’tseemright,doit?Butwhat’stheuse,youmightaswelltalktoasto’sashame!’andsoonandsoforth.Iwasgettingwarmer.Obviouslymywomanwasasmallshopkeeper’swife,liketheother.Iwasjustwwhethershemightn’tbeohepeopleI’dknowninLowerBinfieldafterall,wheurnedalmosttowardsmeandIsawthree-quartersofherfadJesusChrist!ItwasElsie!

    Yes,itwasElsie.Noistake.Elsie!Thatfathag!

    Itgavemesuchashoindyou,seeingElsie,butseeingwhatshe’dgrowntobelike—thatforamomentthingsswaminfrontofmyeyes.ThebrasstapsandballstopsandporcelainsinksandthingsseemedtofadeawayintothedistahatIbothsawthemanddidhem.AlsoforamomentIwasinadeadlyfunkthatshemightreizeme.Butshe’dlookedbanginmyfadhadn’tmadeanysign.Amomentmore,aurnedaon.AgainIfollowed.Itwasdangerous,shemightspotIwasfollowingher,andthatmightstartherwwhoIwas,butIjusthadtohaveanotherlookather.Thefactwasthatsheexercisedakindofhorriblefasationonme.InamannerofspeakingI’dbeenwatgherbefore,butIwatchedherwithquitedifferenteyesnow.

    Itwashorrible,aIgotakindofstifickickoutofstudyingherbackview.It’sfrightening,thethingsthattwenty-fouryearsdotoaw