" She went into the
parlour and rang the bell.
"Mummie, may I have buttered toast?"
"Yes, dear, you may."
"And may I go downstairs and help Jane to make it?"
"Yes, you can do that too; it will save her the trouble of coming up. Let
me take off your coat--give me your hat; now run along, and help Jane to
make the toast."
Esther opened a glass door, curtained with red silk; it led from the bar
to the parlour, a tiny room, hardly larger than the private bar, holding
with difficulty a small round table, three chairs, an arm-chair, a
cupboard. In the morning a dusty window let in a melancholy twilight, but
early in the afternoon it became necessary to light the gas. Esther took a
cloth from the cupboard, and laid the table for Jackie's tea. He came up
the kitchen stairs telling Jane how many marbles he had won, and at that
moment voices were heard in the bar.
It was William, tall and gaunt, buttoned up in a grey frock-coat, a pair
of field glasses slung over his shoulders. He was with his clerk, Ted
Blamy, a feeble, wizen little man, dressed in a shabby tweed suit, covered
with white dust.
"Put that bag down, Teddy, and come and have a drink."
Esther saw at once that things had not gone well with him.
"Have the favourites been winning?"
"Yes, every bloody one. Five first favourites straight off the reel, three
yesterday, and two second favourites the day before.
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