Ben Sees It Through

‘Without me,’ said Ben, ‘Lunnon ain’t Lunnon.’

‘Really! One of the sights?’

‘Didn’t yer know? When them Americans come hover, if I ain’t there they turns rahnd and goes back agine.’

‘Upon my soul, I’m honoured to have met you!’ laughed the young man, and Ben found himself counting his teeth. ‘I hope, in the circumstances, you won’t feel above travelling third-class?’

‘Well—jest fer once, like.’

‘Splendid! Now, listen again. All this is very entertaining, but we mustn’t forget that life’s a serious matter—and especially,’ he added significantly, ‘when we’re job-hunting. The fare to Waterloo is nine-and-tenpence. From Waterloo you will have to get to Wimbledon. Do you know Wimbledon?’

‘That’s right,’ nodded Ben. ‘That’s where Tilden and me ’as our little knock-up.’

A slight frown appeared on the young man’s face.

‘I wonder,’ he mused, gravely, ‘whether, after all, you have too much humour for this job?’

‘Don’t you worry, sir,’ Ben stuck to him. ‘If it’s wanted, I can cry like I got a fly in me eye.’

The young man weighed the information. He did not seem to find it immediately convincing. He studied Ben with a new interest and attention, and Ben felt that his fate was being decided. It was. The toss went against him, and the young man smiled again.

‘Yes—after all, I think you’ll do,’ he said, ‘although I’m afraid there won’t be any tennis for you. The house you’re going to is at Wimbledon Common. Are you good at remembering names?’

‘Yus,’ answered Ben. ‘I can remember ’arf me own.’

‘Yes, by the way, what is it?’

‘Ben.’

‘And you’ve forgotten the other half?’

‘Yus.’

‘Conveniently?’

‘Wotchermean?’

‘Oh, nothing. But sometimes people make a habit of forgetting their names. Well, so you won’t forget this one—’

‘Oo?’

‘—the name of the house you’ve got to go to—’

‘Oh.’

‘Please don’t keep on saying “Oo” and “Oh.” It’s getting a bit on my nerves. So you won’t forget the name of the house you’re going to, I’ll write it down on a piece of paper, and you can stick it in your pocket. I suppose,’ he added, looking at Ben’s ragged suit, ‘you’ve got a pocket?’

‘You can put anythink in me anywhere,’ Ben told him.

‘Well, find a place where this will stay in,’ replied the young man, as he took out a note-book.

He tore out a sheet and scribbled upon it. Then he handed it to Ben and asked whether he could read it.

‘Corse I can!’ retorted Ben, and held the paper hard against his best eye. ‘“Greystones,” ain’t it?’

‘Splendid! Go on.’

‘“Greystones,”’ repeated Ben, to gain time. ‘And the next is “North Lane.” But where’s the Common?’

‘No need to write that,’ responded the young man. ‘You can remember Wimbledon Common, can’t you? And if you lost that little piece of paper with the complete address on it, somebody else might find it and go after your job.’

‘So they might,’ murmured Ben, impressed.

‘Now, I’m going to give you a pound,’ proceeded the young man, ‘and that will cover your expenses all the way.’

It would more than cover them. Ben kept very still, lest his companion should realise it.

‘When you get to the house,’ went on the young man, ‘you will say that—Mr White sent you—’

‘I’m bein’ you, like?’

‘—and you will hand over the piece of paper with the address on.’

‘Yus, but ’oo—’

‘I’m coming to that, now. The gentleman you will ask for, and hand the paper to, is Mr Lovelace—’

‘Go on!’

‘What’s the matter now?’

‘Nothink!’

‘Then what did you say “Go on” for?’

‘Well—Lovelice! I thort you was makin’ the nime hup, like.’

‘Try to think a little less when you get to Wimbledon Common,’ said the young man dryly. ‘If Mr Lovelace can stand your interruption and likes your face, he’ll take you. If he can’t and doesn’t—’ The young man shrugged his shoulders. ‘Well, in that case you’ll have had your fare to London, with a bob or two over.’

The taxi swung round a corner. A hundred yards ahead loomed the station.

‘And that’s orl?’ murmured Ben.

‘Yes—when I’ve given you your cap,’ answered the young man.

He undid the little parcel. A dark brown cap of rough material bulged out of it.

‘Have I suited your particular style of beauty?’ asked the young man, as he put it on Ben’s head.