Tales of Mean Streets

as Mrs. Munsey’s ‘usband, Was a molder with a regular job at Moffatt’s; a large, quiet man of forty-five, the uncomplain

ible for many bold flights of fancy in regard to Ted Munsey’s fortune, Cubitt Town, left to itself, being sterile soil for the imagination. Some said that the Munseys had come in for chests packed with bank-notes, on the decease of one of Mrs. Munsey’s relations, of whom she was wont to hint. Others put it at a street full of houses, as being the higher ideal of wealth. A few, mo

adesman. Wherefore the Munseys straightway went into business. Being equally ignorant of every sort of shopkeeping, they were free to choose the sort they pleased; and thus it was that Mrs. Munsey decided upon drapery and haberdashery, Ted’s contribution to the discussion being limited to a mild hint of green-grocery and coals, instantly suppressed as low. Nothing could be more genteel than drapery, and it would suit the girls. General chandlery, sweetstuff, oil and firewood — all these were low, comparatively. Drapery it was

ds in his pockets, which were low; any lapse being instantly detected by Mrs. Munse

y. “It’s ‘abit. I’ll get out of it soon. It don’t look well

ink of myself, while you look on with your ‘ands in your pockets. Do try an’ not look like a stuck ninny, do!” And Hedward, whose every

was no business doin’.” There was none, but that might not be confessed. “D’y’ expect people to co

sily on alternate feet, and stared at the ceiling, the floor, or the space before him, with an unhappy sense of being on show and not knowing what was expected of him. He moved his hands purposelessl

as discovered after her departure to have stolen a pair of stockings, and Hedward was duly abused for not keeping a sharp lookout while his wife’s back was turned. Finally, the shutters went up on a day’s takings of three and sevenpence farthing, including a most dubious threepenny bit. But then, as Mrs. Munsey said, when you are in business you must expect trade to vary; and of course there would be more customers when the shop got known, although Hedward certainly m

y’s record was never exceeded. But on the fifth day a customer bought nearly seven shillings’ worth all at once. Her husband had that day returned from sea with money, and she, after months

of more company-keeping with Jack Page. Jack was a plumber, just out of his time — rather a catch for a molder’s daughter, but impossible, of course, for the daughter of people in business, as Emma should have had the proper feeling to see for herself.

by the circumstance, have a genteel competence; this was an elementary axiom in Cubitt Town. But where was the money? What was the differen

in a business of this sort who did not keep a good stock of the fancy aprons and lace bows made by the firm he was charged to re

t — were by far the most profitable goods known to the trade. Everybody knew that. Should they say a gross of each, just to go on with? No? Well, then half a gross. These prices were cut so near that it really did not pay to split the gross, but this time, to secure a good customer, he would stretch a point. Mrs. Munsey was enlightened. Plainly the secret

rted that a large shop in the Commercial Road was offering, by retail, aprons and bows of precisely the same sort at a less price than the polite young man had charged for a wholesale purchase. Mrs. Munsey grew desperate, and Hedward’s life became a horror unto him. He was set t

on that the affair must pay, as others did, if only she might hold out long enough. Hedward’s suggestion that he should return to the molding, coming and going as little in sight as possible, she repelled savagely. “A nice notion you’ve got o’ keepin’ up a proper position. You ain’t content with disgracin’ me and yourself too, playin’ the fo

, Marier, in a legal point.

dear me. I

blank disappointment about Saturday — the pay day of less anxious times, and quarter-day, when all these polite young men would demand the money that was not — that day was coming, black and soon. Mrs. Munsey grew more desperate than ever, sharp of feature, and aged. Alo

ul, she fell from clatter toward sleep, of

W

me a kiss late

’ tired. Go to sleep, if you

commanded like that before. She ma

. The shop shutters had been taken down, and the windows carefully cleaned, although it was not the regular window-cleaning day; but the door was

ness and furnitur so help me god all detts i keep to pay myself and my wife is not ansrable for them and certiffy that I

Mu

er was

und the bisness as you said with time and if you do not see me again will you pay the detts when it is pull round as we have been allways honnest and straght i should wi

ice this one must be

e used to fasten his best tie, three keys, and a few coppers. Upstairs the girls bega