PARTISAN REVIEW
93
the building and seeing his mate in conversation, approached. Behind
him,
a young man's quick slight figure, carrying a valise, slipped
down from the stairway and hurried into the street, turning towards
the park.
"He is somewhere in the building," said the policeman.
Gilbert, full of friendly, lively denials, left the policeman with
the doorman at the desk. He closed the door.
Back in the dining room Mrs. Anderson was weeping. Oh, the
troubles of poor young men with nowhere to go! At the same time
it
was evident that she was very nervous. George had seemed so wor–
ried. He had brought nothing, so unlike a boy with his manners.
Something else worried her - what was it? Gilbert said:
"I think there's something fishy about George with the good
manners; I think he's a phony, Mamma."
"Your tongue's wagging like a clapper in a bell and doesn't
know what tune it's playing," she cried, darting up and seizing
the tea things to carry out. "Such a remark! A poor man with
nowhere to sleep - and he's fishy. I gave Theodore a place to sleep
for three years; and you, Gilbert - all your life."
"Don't be angry, Mamma."
"And who was that at the door?" she asked hysterically.
"Who, at the door? Such a nuisance. Nothing but magazines and
vacuum cleaners. We're on the ground floor, never in my life–
anyone could walk in. Who ever heard of such a thing? You're old
enough to know better."
"It was the police at the door," said Gilbert.
At this Mrs. Anderson froze, grasping the dishes tighter; then
set in motion, like a machine, she ran out to the kitchen:
"The police! What nonsense! They call on everyone these days.
What a state things are in!"
"The police," repeated Gilbert, who had had time to get upset.
''They are looking for a young man selling shirts."
Mrs. Anderson
W't<iS
silent.
George came back at a quarter to twelve at night. He looked
worn and tear-stained; but he said confidently that he had been at a
business conference and that now he would remain with them for a
few days: he had the promise of a room soon.
