The Ginger Man - J. P. Donleavy [75]
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."
"No, I understand, but Mrs. Dangerfield took all next month's rent. In advance"
"Why that dirty bitch. I beg your pardon, Miss Frost I do beg your pardon. I get so confused sometimes"
"That's all right, Mr. Dangerfield."
Miss Frost went to her bag on the window sill. She took a pound from her purse. Sebastian distracting his attention by bending, grunting, and tying his shoelace.
"Miss Frost, this is, indeed, most kind of you"
"It's nothing at all"
"I do hate so making these requests, Miss Frost, but could you ever lend me a scarf? I'm afraid the one I have is most unsatisfactory"
"Yes, certainly, do go and choose one. They are in the top left drawer of the dresser"
Sebastian in her room. There was a yellow one. Bright and soft
"May I wear this one, Miss Frost?"
"Yes, certainly."
"Handsome. I like a bit of color. I think you will like The Three Eyes very much. Miss Frost. Ah, I feel quite refreshed. Sporting, in fact. Give me the facts, Miss Frost, and to hell with the fiction. I want the facts"
"Ha, ha."
They stepped down the little front porch. Sebastian offering his arm. The soft million drops coming down. She held his arm lightly. And through the middle class streets and in these windows there were comforts. Dry chairs. Sebastian whistled a tune.
On a back street, through vacant lots, lanes of the poor and whitewashed walls, folding roofs, slates shining everywhere up these black twisted streets. Chickens making noise.
The Three Eyes was small and warm. They went into the snug, sat on the hard, narrow bench. A ring of the buzzer. A head. Good evening, sir. And the drinks. Miss Frost had a glass of port.
"What made you come to Dublin?"
To be a nurse"
"To abuse poor unfortunates"
"I gave it up"
"Why?"
"I didn't like it much and I didn't get along with the other girls. And the pay was bad"
"What did you do then?"
"I went to work for the Dublin