when they can get away with it andvery subservient when they can’t. That’s because they’re Germans, of course, not because they’re Jews. I would never say anything against anyone for being a Jew; dear me, no. I’m not an anti-Semite; and I’ve some very nice Jewish pupils. Look at Mr Liftshitz, a perfect gentleman. Well, the Eastern Jews don’t like the German Jews, and Frau Leszno thinks she’s an Eastern Jew because she was born in Poland, so she doesn’t like Frau Wagner.’
‘But I thought you said . . .’
‘Yes, as I said, Frau Wagner is an Austrian. She came from Vienna, as a matter of fact. But I must say I dislike the Austrians even more than the Germans. They’re so deceitful and so ingratiating and so . . . That “charm” of theirs is quite sickening. Well, you’ll see for yourself. Frau Leszno disliked Frau Wagner on sight. After Frau Wagner came here the first time, Frau Leszno made a scene. She said she wasn’t a servant and she wasn’t going to wait on other servants, especially women like Frau Wagner. She said Frau Wagner was often seen sitting alone in the King David Hotel, and she said Mr Jewel visited her in her room. You’re old enough, Felix, to understand what I mean.’
Felix, with his mouth slightly open, blushed and lowered his head.
‘Frau Wagner is a sort of cook-housekeeper. I went round to where she works and asked her employer if she thought it nice that gentlemen should visit Frau Wagner in her room. Her employer, a Frau Doctor Zimmerman, a very nice person in a way, showed me the room. It
was
quite definitely a bed-sitting-room – it had a wireless set and Frau Zimmerman said that anyway it was so difficult to get good servants, she could not interfere withFrau Wagner’s private life. I had to sympathise. Well, Mr Jewel knows he must not take lady visitors upstairs so he goes round occasionally and sees Frau Wagner. I’m sure it’s all quite respectable,’ Miss Bohun made a slight click with her tongue against her upper teeth, ‘but it’s not quite nice, not quite
healthy
. He brought her here to supper last summer and I had to give my whole evening to entertaining her. To-night is my “Ever-Ready” night – perhaps that’s as well. I don’t suppose Mr Jewel remembered it was “Ever-Ready” night, still – I don’t like it.
And
the waste of electricity.’ She paused, then said: ‘I want you to promise me something, Felix.’
‘Yes,’ Felix looked up, willing to be helpful.
‘I want you to promise not to leave Frau Wagner and Mr Jewel alone together in the house to-night.’
‘Why?’ he asked from surprise.
‘Because,’ Miss Bohun spoke with a sudden aggravated clarity, ‘it would not be nice. Now, I want you to give me your promise.’
‘All right,’ Felix was annoyed to feel his cheeks grow hot again, ‘I wasn’t going out anyway.’ Because of his embarrassment he started washing down the last of his bread with his tea in haste to get away. Perhaps Miss Bohun felt his distaste for she said:
‘You know, Felix, I keep Mr Jewel for practically nothing.’
‘Hasn’t he any money?’
‘Not much. He left the Merchant Service before his time was up.’
‘Why did he leave?’ asked Felix.
Miss Bohun drew down her mouth into a small half-hoop. For some moments Felix feared she was going toanswer, as she had done once before: ‘I have not asked him,’ but she seemed to remember in time that she had admitted him to a friendlier footing now and she said: ‘Well, as he told me quite openly – not in confidence, you know – I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell you. When his boat was at Alexandria he had a fall and hurt his head. He had to be taken to hospital and the boat went without him; he was in hospital a long time and when he came out his Company told him to join another ship, but he wouldn’t. He’d taken a fancy to Egypt and he said he wouldn’t go home again. He’s been hanging around ever since.’
‘Why didn’t he
‘But I thought you said . . .’
‘Yes, as I said, Frau Wagner is an Austrian. She came from Vienna, as a matter of fact. But I must say I dislike the Austrians even more than the Germans. They’re so deceitful and so ingratiating and so . . . That “charm” of theirs is quite sickening. Well, you’ll see for yourself. Frau Leszno disliked Frau Wagner on sight. After Frau Wagner came here the first time, Frau Leszno made a scene. She said she wasn’t a servant and she wasn’t going to wait on other servants, especially women like Frau Wagner. She said Frau Wagner was often seen sitting alone in the King David Hotel, and she said Mr Jewel visited her in her room. You’re old enough, Felix, to understand what I mean.’
Felix, with his mouth slightly open, blushed and lowered his head.
‘Frau Wagner is a sort of cook-housekeeper. I went round to where she works and asked her employer if she thought it nice that gentlemen should visit Frau Wagner in her room. Her employer, a Frau Doctor Zimmerman, a very nice person in a way, showed me the room. It
was
quite definitely a bed-sitting-room – it had a wireless set and Frau Zimmerman said that anyway it was so difficult to get good servants, she could not interfere withFrau Wagner’s private life. I had to sympathise. Well, Mr Jewel knows he must not take lady visitors upstairs so he goes round occasionally and sees Frau Wagner. I’m sure it’s all quite respectable,’ Miss Bohun made a slight click with her tongue against her upper teeth, ‘but it’s not quite nice, not quite
healthy
. He brought her here to supper last summer and I had to give my whole evening to entertaining her. To-night is my “Ever-Ready” night – perhaps that’s as well. I don’t suppose Mr Jewel remembered it was “Ever-Ready” night, still – I don’t like it.
And
the waste of electricity.’ She paused, then said: ‘I want you to promise me something, Felix.’
‘Yes,’ Felix looked up, willing to be helpful.
‘I want you to promise not to leave Frau Wagner and Mr Jewel alone together in the house to-night.’
‘Why?’ he asked from surprise.
‘Because,’ Miss Bohun spoke with a sudden aggravated clarity, ‘it would not be nice. Now, I want you to give me your promise.’
‘All right,’ Felix was annoyed to feel his cheeks grow hot again, ‘I wasn’t going out anyway.’ Because of his embarrassment he started washing down the last of his bread with his tea in haste to get away. Perhaps Miss Bohun felt his distaste for she said:
‘You know, Felix, I keep Mr Jewel for practically nothing.’
‘Hasn’t he any money?’
‘Not much. He left the Merchant Service before his time was up.’
‘Why did he leave?’ asked Felix.
Miss Bohun drew down her mouth into a small half-hoop. For some moments Felix feared she was going toanswer, as she had done once before: ‘I have not asked him,’ but she seemed to remember in time that she had admitted him to a friendlier footing now and she said: ‘Well, as he told me quite openly – not in confidence, you know – I don’t see why I shouldn’t tell you. When his boat was at Alexandria he had a fall and hurt his head. He had to be taken to hospital and the boat went without him; he was in hospital a long time and when he came out his Company told him to join another ship, but he wouldn’t. He’d taken a fancy to Egypt and he said he wouldn’t go home again. He’s been hanging around ever since.’
‘Why didn’t he
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