The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [69]
"These sausages are delicious. I don't believe I've had them before, Miss Frost."
"I get them on Pembroke Road. A shop just past the bridge. Homemade."
"It just goes to show, doesn't it, Miss Frost, that there's no beating the homemade."
"I do agree, so much, Mr. Dangerfield."
"Well, how was work, Miss Frost?"
"It's always the same, I'm afraid. When I'm put working in the shop, I enjoy it because I see a lot of different people."
"And how is business?"
"It tapers off around this time. Early potatoes are being ordered now and I think it's a good time to plant fruit trees."
"Do you? This is fascinating."
"O, I think, Mr. Dangerfield, were you to do it for awhile, I think you would get very bored."
"So jolly interesting."
"It bores me."
"Bores?"
"A little. I'm tired of working for other people. I'd like to work for myself, Mr. Dangerfield. But it's so hard to get started."
"Yes, Miss Frost, things are a little difficult these days. Not what they used to be, of course"
"It's so true, Mr. Dangerfield. All sorts of people are keeping gardens these days. Yesterday I had a little man come in to me for petunia seeds. .By goom' type. I assumed he was someone's gardener. Then I discovered he was a very wealthy man and keeps a big account with us. It's so hard to tell, these days."
"Extraordinary. Quite extraordinary."
Sebastian filled Miss Frost's cup with tea, reached for a piece of bread. Miss Frost had three sausages. Must show her I have no interest in the remaining two. Bide my time. Let her make the first move. Patience was the thing. Suppress these animal desires.
"Have those two sausages, Mr. Dangerfield, before they get cold."
"O I couldn't, Miss Frost, I've had much more than my share. Indeed. Won't you?"
"I've had a sufficiency."
"But I do insist that you have at least one of them, Miss Frost."
"No, really. Here, let me help you."
"Well. Must say, I am a little hungry. I'm usually very careful about my diet. Tell me, Miss Frost, do you like Ireland?"
Miss Frost chuckled softly. A gentle, sweet sound. She's very nice.
"Well, Mr. Dangerfield, it's my home, but I can't honestly say that I haven't thought of living elsewhere. I like it well enough. The people are good."
"I should say, the Erse are a very fine race. Now Wexford is your county. Would you say Wexford had a better class of people?"
Miss Frost gurgled tiny laughter.
"O I don't know, Mr. Dangerfield, but they are industrious."
"And a great characteristic."
"Work?"
"A very necessary thing for most people, Miss Frost Now, Miss Frost, I don't want to be personal, but if you had your choice, what would you do in this world?"
"I guess, just to own my own business. What would you like, Mr. Dangerfield?"
"Well, Miss Frost, to be quite frank with you, I would like nothing better than to be an underwriter to Lloyd's or inherit a large fortune."
"Ha, ha, we would all like that, Mr. Dangerfield"
"Ha, ha, quite."
"But that isn't easy, ha, ha, ha."
"Hey, heh. No I'm afraid it isn't, Miss Frost To be sure. Ha, ha."
"Ha, ha."
"Miss Frost, come out and have a drink with me?"
"Well."
"Come along now, you've had a hard day. And I think you deserve something after this extremely pleasant meal. Do you good to have a little walk. I know a very interesting house, The Three Eyes."
"But I don't want to give the wrong impression, Mr. Dangerfield—you know the way people talk. I know there's no harm in it. O it makes me so upset."
"Be all right. It's dark and rainy, won't see a soul."
"All right, then."
"O, just a little thing. I wonder, Miss Frost, could you do me just one little favor. I wonder could you let me have this week's rent, I'm a little short."
"I've already paid it to Mrs. Dangerfield."
"O I see, that's a little difficult Now I don't want to inconvenience you any, Miss Frost This is entirely up to you and I don't want you to feel obliged in any way. Could you let me have a pound of next week's rent in advance? Now don't feel any obligation whatever. I certainly would never dare think of asking such a thing save for the circumstances. You understand."