"There was two ladies--if they were ladies; at all events, they was
dressed like it. Oldish, both of 'em. One was a foreigner. I know
that because I heard her speak; and it wasn't English. The other one
spoke back to her in the same way, but I heard her speak English
too. And she was the one as sat next to him."
"Good, Polly, we're getting on. And how did you notice him?"
"Well, it was like this," she began to narrate with vivacity. "I
offered him a programme--see?--and he gave me half a sovereign and
looked up at me, as much as to say he'd like change. And I'd no
sooner met his eyes than I knew him. How could I help? He don't look
to have changed a bit. And I saw as he knew me. I saw it by a queer
sort of wink he give. And then he looked at me frightened like--
didn't he just! Of course, I didn't say nothing, but I kept standing
by him a minute or two. And I'd forgot all about the change till he
said to me, with a sort of look, 'You may keep that,' he said, and I
says, 'Thank you, sir,' and nearly laughed."
"Not a bad tip, eh, Polly?"
"Oh, I've had as good before," she replied, with a brief return to
the old manner.
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