He is such a card Learn English through story level 4

chapter one

the dance

edward henry machin first saw daylight

on the 27th of may 1867

in broome street in bursley

the oldest of the five towns

broome street goes down a hill to the

canal

and contains a number of pot banks or

pottery factories

as well as some small houses

the rent for one of these houses

was not high

only about 23 pence a week

edward henry’s mother

his father was dead

lived by making and washing clothes for

fine ladies

she did not often laugh

and if you tried to argue with her

you never got very far

she was a woman a few words

and saved time every day by calling her

son

henry

instead of

edward henry

denry did not work hard at school

and boys who were lazy and not very

clever

usually just found jobs in the pot banks

luckily

at the age of 12

he won a place at the best school in

bursley

it happened like

this on the second day of the

examination

henry arrived a little early

as he walked around the examination room

he came to the teacher’s desk where he

saw a list of names

with the marks for the first day of the

examination

the highest possible mark was 30

but next to his name

he saw the number

seven

the numbers were written in pencil

and the pencil was on the desk

he picked it up looked around the empty

room

and at the door

and then

wrote a two

in front of the seven

of course this was not honest

but how many truly honest school boys

are there

henry was no worse than most of them

daenery did not do well at his new

school

but he did not do badly either

and he was usually

very pleased with himself

as he grew older

he continued to think well of

himself

he knew that he was made for better

things than a job in the pot banks

working with his hands

when henry was 16

his mother made a very fine dress for mr

duncan’s sister

mr dunkarf was the most important lawyer

in bursley

his sister was grateful to mrs machin

and so denri got a job in mr duncan’s

office

for several years

daenery was happy

then

he met the countess

the countess of chell was a very grand

lady

her husband was one of the richest men

in the five towns

and was the new mayor of bursley

the mayor and his wife had decided to

have a ball

and to invite all the most important

people in the town

there were 35 000 people in bursley

and at least 2 000 of these

thought that they were

important but only 200 could dance in

the town hall

three weeks and three days before the

ball

denry was sitting alone in mr duncan’s

office

when a tall and pretty young woman

walked in

before denri could hide the newspaper he

was reading

she said

good morning

in a very friendly way

good morning madam

answered henry

is mr duncan

no madam

he’s at the town hall

well

just tell him i called

of course madam

nothing i can do

she was already turning away

but she turned back and gave him a smile

could you give him this list

the other lists are coming to him as

well

the invitations must go out by wednesday

she was gone

it was the first time daenery had seen

the countess

and she was even more beautiful than her

photographs

and so easy to talk to

he started looking at her list of names

and he had a fantastic idea

he could go to the ball himself

the countess had made a list of people

to invite

but she had asked four or five other

people for lists as well

she wanted mr dunkarf to put the lists

together

and send the invitations

of course the work was given to daenery

so it was easy to add

e h

machine to the list

on wednesday

henry received his invitation

and on thursday

he accepted it

denri had never been to a ball

he couldn’t dance and he didn’t have an

evening suit

all the rich young men of bursley bought

their suits at shilatos

so

two days later

denri stepped into shilito’s shop

i want you to make me an evening suit

he said to young shilito

chillito knew henry

and he also knew

that denri did not have enough money to

pay for a suit

he replied that he was too

busy so

you’re going to the ball are you

he asked surprised

yes

said henry

are you

chillato shook his head

i have no time for balls

daenery looked around the shop

and at the door

and then said

i can get you an invitation

if you like

henry got his suit

and two years to pay for it

one of the best dancing teachers in

bursley

was miss ruth earp

denry learned to dance quickly

but he paid nothing for his lessons

miss earp also got an invitation to the

ball

miss erp was not beautiful

but she was young

and a very good dancer

and at his last lesson

henry asked

will you give me the first dance at the

ball

ruth erp thought for a minute

and then said yes

it took henry two hours to get ready for

the ball

and he arrived a little late

he walked up the beautiful double

staircase

into the ballroom

and looked for ruth

when he found her

he asked

what about that first dance

it’s nearly finished

she answered

coldly

i’m awfully sorry

can we finish it

no

she said

and walked away

she was angry with him

and henry did not know what to say

but she was only at the ball he thought

because he had got her invitation for

her

he joined a group of young men who were

watching the dancing

harold etches who was one of the richest

young men in the five towns was there

with two or three of the swetnam boys

and schilito

at first

denri did not say anything

they all knew of course that he was mr

duncan’s office worker and the son of a

washer woman

but all young men

rich or poor

look the same in evening suits

the conversation in the group was about

the contest

all the important older men in the town

were standing around her but she was not

dancing

perhaps she didn’t want to

but perhaps

they were all afraid to ask

why doesn’t someone ask her to dance

asked henry suddenly

why don’t you

said shilito

it’s a free country

perhaps i will

henry said

harold etches looked at daenery for a

moment

you won’t ask her

he said

then he smiled

not very pleasantly

i’ll give you five pounds if you do

all right

said henry

and quickly walked away

she can’t eat me

she can’t eat me

he said to himself as he walked towards

the countess

the men were still around her

and one of them then re saw

was mr duncan

denry was sorry about this

because mr duncan didn’t know of course

that denry was coming to the ball

suddenly

he found himself standing in front of

the countess

and immediately he forgot all the fine

polite words that ruth earp had taught

him

could i have this dance with you

he said quickly

but smiling and showing his teeth

i’ve won that fiver mr edges

he said to himself

the countess had to accept

she could see that everyone else was

afraid to ask

and she did want to dance

so they danced together

and all the men of bursley

watched with open mouths

denri managed to dance well most of the

time

although once they nearly hit two other

dancers

when the music stopped

the countess looked at henry

and saw that he was really just a boy

you dance well

she said

smiling almost like an armed

do i

he smiled back

it’s the first time i’ve ever danced

except in a lesson

really

you pick things up easily i suppose

yes

he said

do you

something in henry’s question amused the

countess very much

she put her head back and

laughed and everybody in the room could

see

that denri had made the countess laugh

she was still laughing and so was he

when he thanked her for the dance

as she turned away

denri saw that she had dropped her fan

quickly

he picked it up and put it in his pocket

then he walked back to the group of

young men

here you are

said harold etches

giving daenery a five-pound note

henry just smiled

and put the note in his pocket

he could see in the faces of the young

men around him

that he was suddenly famous

he was no longer just the son of a

washer woman

he was the man who had first danced with

the countess

just the same as dancing with any other

woman

he said

when shilito asked him what it was like

what was she laughing at

someone asked

ah

said henry

i can’t tell you that

this was not the last time he was asked

that question

but he always refused to answer

many young ladies wanted to dance with

him now

after his success with the contest

later he saw ruth urp again

and danced with her

and with her young friend nelly

but he said nothing at all about the

countess’s fan in his pocket

at the end of the ball

just as the countess was leaving

henry pushed through the crowd

and held out her fan

i’ve just picked it up

he said to the countess

oh

thank you so much

she said

then she smiled

you do pick things up easily don’t you

and both daenery and the countess

laughed

and laughed

but nobody in bursley knew why

daenry walked home that night in a dream

thinking about the countess

ruth earp and nelly

and about the five-pound note in his

pocket

more than he got for a month’s work in

mr duncan’s office

he was a happy man

but trouble

was waiting for him

chapter 2

the rent collector

and the widow hollins

the ball made a new man of daenery

he had danced with the countess

the first man to dance with her

bursley thought he was a wonderful

fellow and so did henry himself

he had always been

a hopeful

cheerful kind of person

now

he was filled with happiness all the

time

and when he got out of bed in the

morning

he felt like singing and dancing

something good was going to happen he

knew

he just had to wait

he didn’t have to wait very long

a few days after the ball

mrs codlin came to see mr duncan

mrs codlin was a widow

a woman of nearly 60.

she owned about 70 small houses in

bursley

and mr duncan collected the rents for

her

denri of course actually went to the

houses to get the money

although the rent from all these houses

was about 12 pounds a week

mrs codlin always said

that it was not enough

and the taxes

every year the taxes on those houses got

higher and higher

and mrs codlin

hated paying her taxes

mr duncan was an important man at the

town hall

because of this

mrs codlin thought that he should make

the taxes lower on her houses

mrs codlin had chosen mr duncan to

collect her rents

because she thought he was an honest man

but an honest man would never try to

change the taxes especially for one

person

what strange ideas people have sometimes

mrs codlin had just heard that her taxes

were going up again

but she did not stay long in mr duncan’s

office

the conversation which denry listened to

through the wall

was short

loud

and not very polite

when mrs codley left

mr duncan called denri into his office

write this letter to mrs codlin

he said angrily

madam

i understand from our conversation this

morning

that you prefer to find another lawyer

daenery wrote down the letter

as he was leaving the room

mr duncath spoke again

meechan

henry knew what was coming

he had known it was coming ever since

the ball

who invited you to the ball

there it was

a very

difficult question

i did sir

henry just could not think of a lie

why

i thought perhaps you’d forgotten to sir

i suppose you think you’re a really fine

fellow after your dance with a countess

mr duncan said unpleasantly

yes

said henry

do you

he had not meant to say it

the same little question had amused the

countess greatly

but it was true to say that it was not

amusing his employer now

mr duncan’s own dance with the countess

had come to a very quick ending

because he had stepped heavily on her

skirt

you will leave my office at the end of

the week

said mr duncan coldly

oh

very well

said henry

and he said to himself

something good must happen now

he had no idea what he would do next

but he was still cheerful

and he still had harold etch’s five

pounds

the next morning

both mrs codlin and denry were late for

church

mrs codlin was late by accident

and also because she was fat

daenery was late because he had planned

it that way

the two met at the church door

well

you’re nice people i must say

mrs codlin said to henry

she meant duncath and all his office

workers

nothing to do with me you know

said henry

i wish i could find someone else to

collect my rents

i can still collect them for you if you

like

said henry

you

i’ve told dunkarf i’m leaving him

henry said

the fact is

he and i don’t agree on a lot of things

mrs codlin looked at him and thought

about it

he was just a young office worker

and his mother was a washer woman

his suit was clean

but old and unfashionable

and what’s more

henry went on

i’ll do the work for less money

you pay duncan

90 pence a week

well

i’ll do it for 60 pence a week

and i’ll collect them better than him

give me a month

and you’ll see the difference

at the end of the week

a notice appeared on the front door of

daenerys mother’s house

which said

e h machine

rent collector

in a few weeks

daenery was doing very well

he was working for himself

and in two days

he earned more money than in a week with

mr duncan

he walked around the town

smiling

looking important talking to other young

men

and thinking of new ways

of making money

one monday morning

he went to mrs holland’s house to

collect the rent

it was a very small house

not much more than one room downstairs

and one room upstairs

the rent was 15 pence a week

and the widow hollins

had not paid any rent at all for some

weeks

she had lived there all her life

and after two husbands and 11 children

she now lived alone

she had seen a lot of life

and was old and tired

i’ve nothing for you she said when denri

came in

that’s not good enough i’m afraid

said henry cheerfully

i’m not leaving until i get 10 pence

it’ll be a long wait

i’ll have nothing until saturday

when my son

jack starts a new job

i’m sorry

said henry kindly

but if you don’t pay

you’ll have to go

mrs codlin will put you out in the

street you know

why don’t you go and live with one of

your children

after some more conversation

henry left the house

still smiling cheerfully

and then

two minutes later

he put his head round the door again

look here mother

he said

i’ll lend you ten pence if you like

but you must pay me a penny a week for

it

you must pay me back next week

and give me 11 pence

and he wrote down

ten pence paid

in her rent book

hey

you’re a funny fellow mr machine

said mrs hollins

the next monday

all the neighbors knew that denri could

be very helpful about problems with the

rent

and henry with his cheerful smiling face

saved many families from a life in the

street

of course

it was good business for him too

if someone borrowed ten pence for four

weeks

when they paid henry back

they had to give him 14 pence

if it was for six months

they had to pay him back

36 pence

money made like this

just grows and grows

henry began to think that he was

different from other men

he had invited himself to the ball

danced with the countess

left his job with

dunkarth taken duncan’s rent collecting

and then

introduced the idea of collecting rents

and lending money

at the same time

he was becoming well known in bursley as

an unusual and amusing fellow

in other words

a card

but then the day came when mrs codlin

decided to sell some of her smaller

houses

this was very bad news for daenery

because these houses were the most

important part of his business

denri talked to her

and tried to show her that it was not a

sensible idea

but it was no good

finally

denry said wildly that he would buy some

of the houses himself

i’ll buy the widow holland’s house

he said

i’ll give you

45 pounds for it

it was all the money he had

mrs codlin agreed

and selling this one house for the

moment

seemed to be enough for her

denri was now a property owner

and he had also joined the sports club

the club for the rich

the fashionable and the successful men

of bursley

it was a great thing for the son of a

washer woman to join a club like this

on henry’s second visit to the club

he saw that some of the most important

men in bursley were there

a group of them were arguing in a corner

of the comfortable bar

some of the poor people in this town

live in the most terrible old houses

said charles ferns a

lawyer and the town just doesn’t care

about them

there’s an old woman

hollins is her name

who’s lived in the same

awful old house for 50 years

she pays 15 pence a week rent for this

place

and now

she’s going to be put out into the

street because she can’t pay

who’s the hard-hearted owner

someone asked

mrs codlin

said ferns

mrs codlin isn’t the owner

called henry who was sitting at the next

table smiling

i am

oh

i’m sorry

said ferns

i had no idea

not at all

said henry

but what can i do

she can’t pay or doesn’t want to pay

do i let her live in the house for no

rent because she’s seventy

come on tell me

what do i do

ferns would make her a present of the

house

a voice said laughing

and everybody else laughed too

well

that’s what i’ll do

said henry

i’ll give her the house

that’s the kind of

hard-hearted owner i am

the room was silent for a moment

i mean it

said henry

and picked up his glass

she can have the house

good health to the widow hollins

and the next morning

everybody in bursley was talking about

it

i say

have you heard machine’s latest

he was now not just a card

he was

the card

chapter 3

the dancing teacher

and the furniture van

one day in july

daenery knocked at the door of a house

at the top of broome street

the dancing teacher miss ruth earp lived

there

in a house owned by mr calvert

and henry now collected mr calvert’s

rents for him

good morning miss earp

said daenery when she opened the door

i’ve come about the rent

the rent

said ruth surprised

she gave him a look which seemed to say

why does a little boy like you ask about

my rent

yes

i collect rents for mr calvert now

henry said

he did not like the little boy look on

her face

and added

you haven’t paid any rent for more than

a year

ruth earp gave a hard little laugh

huh

i see

she said

so mr herbert calvert is paying you to

do his dirty work now

i must tell you mr machine

that not long ago

mr calvert was more interested in me

than in my rent

but when i decided that i could not

return his interest

he said things which hurt me very much

very much indeed

oh

said henry

he told himself that he was here on

business

but if you can’t pay your rent mishap

i’m afraid you’ll have to leave

ruth looked at him

and then gave a slow sad smile

of course i can pay it

she said gently

i just wanted to punish mr calvert a

little

i can’t pay you

just at this moment i’m afraid

the bank is closed

can you come back tomorrow

come at four o’clock

and i’ll give you a cup of tea

the next day henry returned

it was the first time he had taken tea

with a young lady

and so he had put on his best summer

suit

he noticed that ruth was wearing a very

pretty dress

something white with bits of pink in it

ruth had introduced denri to dancing and

now she introduced him to taking tea

it was all very beautifully done

tea in very small cups

little squares of bread and butter

and interesting conversation

ruth seemed much more friendly today

and henry found it all very pleasant

then suddenly

ruth stopped speaking

and lay back in her chair with her eyes

closed

is something the matter

asked henry

i’m afraid

i’ve got an awful headache

she answered

i’m sorry

said henry

is there anything i can do

perhaps you should lie down

would you like me to go

but i must pay you the rent first

she put her hand to her head

the money’s in that desk

could you get it for me

she gave henry a key

he went over to the desk

put the key in the lock and tried to

turn it

nothing happened and then the key turned

and turned

i can’t open it

he said

ruth stood up holding her head

she came over to the desk and tried the

key

oh dear

i’m afraid you’ve broken the log

i’ll have to get someone to mend it

tomorrow morning

and then i’ll bring the money round to

you

don’t worry

said henry

i can easily call back for it tomorrow

and i’m very sorry about the lock

late that night

daenery came home from an evening at the

sports club

and just as he reached his mother’s

house

he saw something strange at the top end

of broome street

a large furniture van was moving down

the street all on its own

there were no horses

clearly the owner had left it there

and forgotten to put on the brakes

it was moving slowly now

but henry could see that when it reached

the bottom of broome street

it could be very dangerous

daenery was always at his finest at

difficult or dangerous moments

as the van passed him

moving at about five or six kilometers

an hour

he jumped on

losing his hat

and tried to put the brakes on

for a second or two

the van seemed to slow down

but then denri realized that the brakes

were not working

and the van was moving faster and faster

down the hill

at the bottom of the street was the

canal

and clearly nothing was going to stop

the van now

it was too late to jump off

so henry closed his eyes and held on

hard

when the van went in

henry was under water for a moment

but then

he managed to climb further up on the

front of the van

everything was still and dark

except for a little star light on the

water

only denri had seen the van’s strange

journey down the hill

well well

he said aloud to himself

and a voice answered from inside the van

who’s there

henry’s heart seemed to stop beating

it’s me

he said

not mr machine

said the voice

yes

said he

i jumped on as it came down the street

and

here we are

oh cried the voice

i wish you could get round to me

it was ruth erp’s voice

daenery understood immediately

ruth had played with him

she had planned to take her furniture

and run away in the night

she had no rent money locked in her desk

at all

but he was not angry with her

just amused

ruth was really very clever

in fact

very like daenery himself

he had to climb over the roof of the van

to get to the back

the van was black inside

and the floor was under 50 centimeters

of water

where are you

i’m here

i’m on a table

it’s the only thing the men put in the

van before they went to have their

supper

henry felt around until he touched her

wet dress

you’re a bad girl you know

he said

ruth started to cry

i know

she said miserably

but i had no money

what could i do

henry climbed onto the table next to her

what can we do now

she whispered

wait until it gets light

said he

so they

waited a hot july night it is not

unpleasant to sit in the dark with your

feet in water

ruth told henry all about her life and

her money problems

when it started to get light

daenerys saw that the back of the van

was only a meter from the edge of the

canal

so they jumped

in the gray early light

they looked at one another

ruth had a black eye

and henry had lost his hat

go home by the back streets not up

broome street

said daenery

i’ll come and see you in the morning

it was four o’clock in the morning when

daenery went quietly up his mother’s

stairs

he had seen nobody

only two people in bursley ever knew

exactly what had happened that night

everybody knew that daenery had tried to

save the town from a dangerous runaway

van

and had ended in the canal

but as well as this one fact

there were a great many stories about

the accident

and in these stories

the names of denri and ruth

were always appearing

one morning

daenery went to see mr herbert calvert

and gave him 10 pounds which he said

came from ruth earp

calvert gave daenery a strange look

what’s going on

he asked

is it true that she was trying to leave

without paying

i don’t think so

it’s all very extraordinary

i think the van was at the wrong house

are you engaged to her

ask calvert

yes

he said

are you

and henry thought to himself

that few engagements had begun

as strangely as theirs

chapter 4

saved by a storm

when newly engaged people like denri and

ruth want to go away on a summer holiday

there are many things to think about

a businessman for example who lives by

collecting rents every week

cannot go away easily for two

and a young woman who lives alone

must always be careful about what other

people think

so ruth asked her friend

nelly cottrell to go with her

ruth and nelly took a room together at

26 cent asaph’s road clandino

denri took a room at number 28 asaps

road

who could want more

denri had never seen the sea before

as he walked along the beach in his best

clothes

with the girls on either side of him

he thought it was all wonderful

he also saw fantastic possibilities for

making money

because here were 50 000 people

all on holiday

all wanting to do interesting things

and all with money to spend

henry thought about this a lot

because he felt he was now a serious

person

he had something to live for

he was very pleased and happy to be

engaged to ruth

although still a little surprised

what could this fine young lady see in

him

they had not discussed money at all

although henry wanted to

it was clear that ruth thought he was a

rich man and henry was spending a lot of

money

in fact

he could not move without paying for

something

the pier

swimming ice cream chairs fruit boat

trips photographs teas coffees

even a short walk with ruth was

expensive

ruth had very little money

but he didn’t worry her

she didn’t know what money was

and she spent denries like water

the gentle silent nelly

often asked to pay for something herself

but of course

denri couldn’t let her

he liked nelly cottrell

she thought that he and ruth were

wonderful

and although she was a very quiet person

she was also very sensible

at the end of the first week

denri was getting more and more worried

about money

on the monday morning he went back to

bursley to collect rents

and returned to clandino on tuesday

evening with his pockets full of rent

money

something had to happen he thought

he didn’t know what it was

but three months of engagement with ruth

erp

was going to leave him penniless

he was saved by a storm at sea

they woke up on wednesday morning to

find the rain and wind crashing against

the windows

the three walked down into the town

where they learnt that the town’s

lifeboat had gone out to a ship further

along the coast

a second lifeboat an old one now owned

by a fisherman

had gone out to a norwegian ship the

hyalmar

which was in difficulties just off

clandino itself

everyone in the town was watching the

lifeboat save the sailors while the ship

went down

henry and the girls went on to the pier

and henry even got his feet wet helping

one or two of the norwegian sailors from

the lifeboat onto the pier

after that

he talked for a time to croggin

the owner of the lifeboat

it was a very exciting day

and it gave daenery an idea

i’ll write a report about all this for

the signal

he said this was the five towns daily

newspaper

oh yes

said nelly

what a good idea

the next morning

daenery was up early to send the report

off by train

then he and the girls walked into town

and spent more money

everybody in the town was talking about

the storm

the wreck of the hyalmar

and the wonderful rescue of all the

norwegian sailors by the lifeboat

after a few minutes

ruth turned to daenery

i had the bill for our room this morning

she said

oh

he said

did you pay it

yes

but now i’ve almost no money left

we spent so much money while you were

away in bursley

you don’t know how quickly money goes

she waited a moment

then said

i suppose we’ll have to go home

what a pity

said henry sadly

of course

ruth wanted henry to say that he could

pay for her to stay

but all he said was

what a pity

i think i’ll go home this afternoon

i’m sorry

said henry

at that moment

a hand touched his arm

it was creagine

is the median

it’s now or never

it’s 25 pounds if you can pay today

right

said henry i’ll see you this evening

ruth pretended not to be interested in

any of this

poor nelly

she knew something was wrong

but she didn’t know what it was

all she knew was that her holiday was

coming to a sudden end

in the evening

the three of them walked to the station

where’s your luggage

ruth asked henry

i’m not going

i’ve got business here

there was a book shop in the station

denri bought the signal which had just

come in

and there was his report

terrible storm in north wales a report

by mr e h machin of bursley

henry was ready to explode with

happiness

but he gave the newspaper calmly to ruth

she did not look at it

we’ll read it on the train

she said

the bookshop also had a lot of souvenirs

of clandino

wanted a glass plate with a picture of

great orm head on it

but the man in the shop said that they

had sold out

couldn’t you get one and send it to me

said ruth

oh yes

said the man taking out a book

what name

ruth looked at henry

in the way that a woman always looks at

a man when she wants him to pay

rothschild

said henry

the millionaire

these words

ended their engagement

the next day

daenery received by post a ring in a box

with a short letter

i only said roth’s child

said daenery to himself

but secretly

he was pleased

an hour later

denri met cregane

and was soon the owner of the old

clandidno lifeboat

he then went to find simeon

an old sailor with a white beard

he had been in the lifeboat

when they rescued the men on the hyalmar

i’ve got the boat

said henry

i’ll give you two pounds for the week

all right said the old man

and i’ve seen three of those norwegians

they don’t speak english

but they understand about the money

good

said henry

i’ll see you tomorrow morning

at five o’clock the next morning

a boat left glandino

there were six men rowing three of them

norwegians

there was also a man with a white beard

and denri

in 20 minutes

they were at the wreck of the hyalmar

and denri was feeling very ill

20 minutes more

and he was happy to be back on land

at 10 o’clock that morning

two norwegian sailors were walking

around the town giving little notices to

everyone they met

the wreck of the hyalmar

famous rescue at londidno

every day at 11 12 2

3

4 5 and 6 o’clock

the famous lifeboat which rescued the

norwegian sailors will visit the wreck

of the hyalmar

the lifeboat’s captain

is simeon edwards one of the rescuers

and the lifeboat is rowed

by three of the rescued norwegians

return trip 12 pence

on the first day

denri made 12 pounds

that evening

he received a packet in the post

it was from nelly

there was a box of chocolates

and a note which said

thank you very much for the holiday

i hope you will like these

nelly

henry was very pleased by this

ruth’s young friend he thought

was much more grateful than ruth herself

the boat trips out to the wreck became

more and more popular

in the afternoons

denri had to ask 25 pence

it was the only way to stop the big

crowds that were waiting on the beach

soon he was making a hundred pounds a

week

he was sorry the wreck had happened in

august and not july

he was sorry there were not two

or even 40 yalmars

one day in september

when business was beginning to slow down

he was down to 50 pounds a week

daenery had a very pleasant surprise

he met nelly on the beach

and it was a fact that seeing her gave

him a great feeling of happiness

she was with her father counselor

cottrell and her mother

the counselor was a builder who had

become rich building cheap houses for

the people of the five towns

well young man

said councillor cottrell

he continued to call daenery young man

in a way that made henry cross

i’ve made more money this summer than

you have in a year

he said silently to the councillors back

you must have dinner with me one evening

denri said finally

at the majestic

the majestic was the finest and most

expensive hotel in clandino

some of the waiters were french

they agreed to go the next day

then mrs cottrell remembered that ruth

was coming to stay with them for a few

days

bring her along too

said henry

the dinner was a great success

henry had never arranged a dinner before

but it was easy

you just walked into the hotel in the

morning and said what you wanted

the hotel arranged everything

and it was easy to meet a woman who had

just broken off her engagement to you

you just said

good afternoon how are you

and she said the same

then you shook hands

and there you were

still alive

after the meal

daenery walked back with the others to

their hotel

councillor cottrell had stopped calling

daenery young man

he now called him

my boy

that lifeboat it was just an idea my boy

just an idea

yes

said henry

but i thought of it

the question is

said the counselor

can you think of any more ideas as good

well

said henry

can

you when they reached the cottrell’s

hotel

ruth waited a moment while the others

went in

and then turned to denri

i don’t feel like sleeping at all

i suppose you wouldn’t like to go for a

walk

well

i suppose you’re very tired

no

you replied

it’s this moonlight i’m afraid of

a few days later the cottrells and ruth

earp went home

and daenery went with them

he had now sold the lifeboat and brought

all his business in clandino to an end

he had very little luggage

but he did have a new hat box

it was very heavy

when daenery got home

he was pleased to see his mother again

she had often collected his rents for

him during the summer

and had done it very well

he gave the hat box to her

and she immediately dropped it

i don’t want any of your games young man

she said crossley

what’s in it

some pretty stones from the beach

she picked up the hat box

opened it

and screamed

it fell to the floor with a crash

and mrs machin was standing up to her

ankles in money

she could see coins running all over the

floor

at last they stopped moving

and then it was silent

henry could hear his heart beating

for once in her life his mother could

not find a word to say

for several days afterwards mrs machin

was still picking up coins

the story of the money in the hat box

quickly went round the town

it was daenerys latest

and people talked about it for weeks

afterwards

chapter five

the rescue of the countess

daenerys rent collecting business grew

and grew

he had come back from the clandino

adventure with a thousand pounds

two years later

he had two thousand pounds

and his bank manager

spoke to him with great politeness

denri now rented a small office

and employed an office boy

he also bought a mule and cart

he said he needed them for his work

he could of course collect rents on a

bicycle

and a bicycle doesn’t eat much or run

away

but henry wanted a mule

it was a good advertisement for his

business

henry was happy that people talked about

the mule as his latest

and he was happy to be making money

but he wanted more than money

he was always looking for new ideas

exciting things to do

things which would make sure that he was

always the greatest card in the five

towns

one day

a new notice appeared on daenerys door

five towns savings club

secretary and manager

e h machin

many shops in the five towns had savings

clubs

every week customers paid a few pence

into the club

at christmas the customers could spend

all the money they had paid in

henry’s idea was for a savings club for

every shop in the five towns

it was a fantastic idea

a poor person could pay just a little

money every week

and to make it easier

denri could come to the house and

collect the money

savings club was special in one very

important way

after paying a pound to denri

someone could spend two pounds in the

shops immediately

although they must then of course

continue to pay into the club every week

denri needed to make a profit of course

and his profit would come from the shops

for every six pence spent in a shop

the shop had to pay him

one penny

he started by going to bostocks

the biggest clothes shop in the five

towns

with bostock’s name on the list

it was easier to find other shops

in two weeks

he had nearly a hundred

now

he needed something to give the club a

good start

for 25 pounds

denri could put an advertisement on the

front page of the signal

but he preferred free advertisements

then

he had an idea

he could ask the countess of chal to be

the patron of his club

hers was the best possible name to have

at the top of his letter paper

she was the richest woman in the five

towns

some people loved her and some people

hated her

but everybody knew her

i’ll ask her i’ll have her as a patron

he said to himself

i’ll go to snaid hall

she can’t eat me

so one morning he arrived

without his mule

at the home of the countess of chell

he had been to snade hall before

the gardens were open to the people of

the five towns

and there were often hundreds of people

there on sunday afternoons in summer

but today

the gardens were empty

it was a long walk between the trees up

to the house

and a long walk up the steps

denri rang

and the door opened

well

said a lady

she was dressed in black

can i see the countess

he asked

giving her his card

i will ask

she

answered she disappeared into the house

leaving henry in the hall

a few moments later

he heard the countess’s voice

oh no

i’m terribly busy

i’m leaving in a few minutes

still henry waited

nobody came to see him

minutes passed and still nothing

had they forgotten him

then

through an open door in the back of the

house he saw a man

it was jock

the son of a friend of his mother

jock worked at snade hall

where he drove the countess’s carriage

denry did not want to shout through the

house

so he walked towards him

jock

he called softly

jock didn’t hear

and disappeared through another door

denri followed through door after door

until suddenly

he found himself in a long ballroom

full of mirrors

paintings and rich furniture

with high windows to one side

and big doors on the other

jock had disappeared

denri tried the big doors but they were

all locked

he went back to the door he had used to

come into the room

but strangely

that was now locked as well

then he heard horses

outside and running to a window

he saw the countess’s carriage driving

away

denri tried knocking on all the doors

first politely then noisily

he tried calling out

then shouting as loudly as he could

nothing

at last

he realized that there was nobody to

hear him

he was a prisoner

in an empty house

he looked around the room

the only possible escape was to break a

window

so daenery preferred to wait until night

he spent a long afternoon in the great

ballroom of snade hall

looking at pictures and furniture

when night fell

he broke one of the big windows and went

home

the five towns savings club began life

without the countess

the next morning

daenery opened the signal

and suddenly felt very ill

robbery at snaid hall

yesterday thieves broke into the great

ballroom at snade

home of the countess of chao

the police say that nothing seems to be

missing

the countess who is away in italy

will pay 20 pounds for any information

about the thieves

henry was lucky

the robbery was the talk of the town for

a few days

but nobody it seemed had remembered his

visit to snade hall or found his

visiting card

and because nothing was stolen

the police were not very interested

indeed a week or two later

denri saw a chance to make something out

of his adventure

all that long afternoon

he had been in the great ballroom

and he had used his eyes well

he remembered everything

soon

a report appeared in the signal under

daenerys name

it began

the recent robbery at snaid hall gives

us a reason to remember the beautiful

paintings and furniture which it

contains

and which happily were not stolen

only friends of the family of course

ever see the great ballroom but perhaps

readers of the signal will be interested

to read a description of this fine room

everybody read the report of course

and everybody understood that henry who

had already danced with the contest

was now

a good friend of the family

the savings club was a great success

in fact it became too successful

the reason was this

when customers had paid in two pounds

they were allowed to spend four pounds

in the shops

they did spend four pounds in the shops

and henry had to pay the shops

customers were still paying in their

five pence and their ten pence

but that wasn’t enough to help denri

his two thousand pounds in the bank was

going very quickly

and then a whisper began to go round

the denry’s famous savings club was not

healthy

that it was going to fail and that

everyone would lose their money

henry knew that he had to do something

and do it very quickly

he thought of the countess

the countess was very good at opening

things

she opened hospitals and schools all

over the five towns

and henry read in the signal

that she was going to open a new police

club in hambridge in a week’s time

there are a number of facts about what

happened on the day of the opening

and during the week before it

some people may have ideas to explain

some of these facts

the facts are these

first

daenery called one day at the house of

mrs kemp in broome street

mrs kemp was the mother of jock

denrie’s old friend and carriage driver

to the countess

second a day or two later

jock came to visit his mother

and daenery also came to visit

denri and jock went for a short walk

together

third

on the afternoon of the opening of the

police club

the countess’s carriage broke a wheel

between snaid hall and hanbridge

about five kilometers from hanbridge

fourth

about five minutes later

denry drove past in his mule cart

wearing his best clothes

fifth

as denry drove past

jock called out

excuse me sir

and henry stopped

these

are the facts

good afternoon countess

said henry lifting his hat

oh it’s you is it

said the countess

good afternoon

i see you’ve had an accident

said henry

are you going somewhere important

yes i am going somewhere important

i’ve got to be at the police club by

three

and i shan’t be

i’m late now

i can get you there by three o’clock

said henry

it was five kilometers to hanbridge

and they were there in 17 minutes

the mule was moving as fast as he could

but when they came into the main square

he stopped suddenly

there were several hundred policemen

outside the police club waiting for the

countess

oh dear

said henry he hates policemen

i’ll walk

said the countess

oh no

said henry it’s all right

he hit the mule over the head with his

whip

the mule dashed off but away from the

police club

they hit another cart full of vegetables

and turned it over

they dashed down a hill fast

then

the contest noticed that daenery was not

using his right arm

i think i broke it when we hit the cart

he said

don’t worry

i’ll go up this hill that’ll stop him

denri managed to turn the mule into

birch’s street which went up a hill

the mule slowed down then stopped

shall i drive him to the club

asked the countess

she could see that daenerys arm was very

painful

and so the countess arrived at the

police club

in henry’s mule card

and she invited denri to the club

opening

where she told the five mayors and all

the important people of the five towns

how daenry had rescued her

after the opening

daenry left the club with the countess

to help her find her carriage

but it still had not arrived

i can take you home in my cart

offered henry

i think i’ll wait

said the countess

well

let’s go and have a cup of tea while

we’re waiting

said henry

there’s a good tea shop near here

the countess loved tea and they were

soon sitting in a corner of the tea shop

the countess looked hard at henry

how did you get all that information

about the rooms at snaid hall

she asked

after this

the conversation became exciting

that evening a notice appeared in the

signal which said that the countess was

now patron of the five towns savings

club

in a few days

a thousand more people had joined the

club

henry

had no more worries

about money

chapter 6

the battle with daenerys mother

late one winter’s evening a few years

later

daenery opened the door of his mother’s

house in broome street

is that you henry

came a tired voice

yes

he said walking into the living room

his mother was sitting very near the

fire which was burning brightly

she looked cold and ill

you must see a doctor mother

a doctor

what for

i’ve just got a bit of a cold that’s all

you’ve been ill a lot this winter

said henry

it’s this awful old house we live in

it’s a very good house

it was good enough for your father

and it’s good enough for me

mother i’m earning 2 000 pounds a year

and here we are living in an old house

at a rent of 23 pence a week

actually

henry was making nearly 4 000 a year

but he was afraid to tell his mother

that

these days

he was a great man in the five towns

but his greatness was nothing in broome

street

you can go and live in a fine grand

house if you like henry

said his mother

but i’m staying here

and so the battle went on

denri wanted to move but his mother

refused to leave broome street

and henry wouldn’t move to a new house

without her

one morning a few weeks later

there was a letter from mrs machin from

the man who owned her house

he had sold the house he wrote to a man

in london

a mr wilbraham

from next month mrs machin must pay her

rent to him

the next day

henry came home with some news

i’ve met mr wilbraham the man who bought

our house

he came down from london

he wants me to collect the rents for him

what did you tell him

i said yes

why not

it’s easier for you

and he’s an interesting man

he’s building a new house up at

bleakridge

it’s going to be a really modern house

a house where you can live comfortably

without servants

he’s certainly a sensible man

answered mrs machin

she hated servants and said so about

once a week

the house at bleakridge started to grow

mr wilbraham stayed in london

the builder was mr cottrell

denry had been friendly with the family

since clandidno

but henry also kept an eye on things

the house was nearly finished when mrs

machin got a second letter from mr

wilbrum

he says

we have to leave

she cried

he wants us out immediately

oh henry

what shall we do

we’ll go and see him

said henry

he’s coming to his new house tonight

so they put on their best clothes and

went up to bleakridge

half an hour later they were standing

outside mr wilbraham’s house

henry rang the bell and they waited

dirty door step

said mrs machin looking down at it

in broome street it was important to

have a clean doorstep even if your rent

was only 23 pence a week

easy to clean

said henry

watch

he turned a tap next to the doorstep and

water ran over the step washing it

is that hot water

asked mrs machin

of course

said henry

he could see his mother light the tap

wilbrahams fixed a lot of things like

that in his house

he rang again but there was no answer

perhaps his train’s late

i’ve got a key

we’ll go in and wait for him

he opened the door

and turned on the electric light

mrs machin had never seen electric light

before

she thought it was wonderful

it’s very warm in here

she said

central heating

said henry no fires to light no wood to

carry no fireplaces to clean

the doorbell rang

there he is

said henry moving to the door

three people stood on the washed

doorstep

mr and mrs cottrell and nelly

mr wilbraham had invited them said mr

cottrell

oh come in come in

said henry

he’s not here

perhaps he’s missed his train

but the house is all ready for him

come on

i’ll show you round

he and nelly ran upstairs and the others

followed

upstairs the house was as wonderful as

downstairs

so easy to clean no work at all

why

said mrs cottrell

i could live here without any servants

and still have it clean and tidy by ten

o’clock in the morning

mrs mation agreed

downstairs they found a fine cold supper

ready to eat

come on said henry

let’s eat

i’m sure he’d like us to

mrs machin didn’t want to

it’s very strange that he isn’t here

she said

he’s a strange man said henry

i think he’s a little mad

i don’t think he can be mad

said mrs machin

the house is much too sensible for a

madman

finally they all sat down to supper

and after some food and three bottles of

wine

they started to enjoy themselves

soon daenery was searching the house for

a fourth bottle of wine

he found one

opened it

drank some and with a cry

dropped the glass on the floor where it

broke

it was not wine

it was a bottle of cleaning liquid

and the word poison was written on it in

large letters

nelly didn’t seem to realize how serious

it was

and began to laugh

mrs machin took daenerys arm

come out to the kitchen

she said

you must have some salt water to make

you sick

oh no said henry

i’ll be all right

but his mother wouldn’t listen to him

and pulled him out of the room

nelly had her hand over her mouth

trying very hard not to laugh

but not succeeding

ten minutes later they returned

henry looked very white

and very cross

there’s no danger now

said mrs machin

so the party came to an end

the cottrells stood up to leave and

asked henry how he was feeling

i feel much too ill to walk home

he said

i’ll sleep here the bedrooms are all

ready

my mother can stay too

the cottrells left and henry went to bed

after an hour his mother went to bed too

but she slept very badly

the next morning

she was up before denri and went out

half an hour later she was back

waking henry up

oh henry

i’ve just been back home

they’re pulling the house down

the roof’s gone and the furniture

henry sat up

i’ll tell you something now

he said

wilbram’s dead

dead

dead well he was never really alive of

course

and mrs machin understood

this was all denmary’s plan to move her

out of broome street and up to

bleakridge

soon all bursley knew that daenery had

won the battle with his mother

and they loved it

but at least mrs machin had won

with the salt water

chapter 7

the mayor

the wife

and the football club

soon after the move to bleakridge

bursley made daenery a town councillor

he was the youngest councillor in the

town and one of the richest men in the

five towns

but councillor cottrell still called him

young man

henry did not like counselor cottrell

but he was very friendly with nelly and

her

mother so when he bought one of the

first cars in the five towns

he decided to invite them to go for a

drive

when he got there

nelly came to the

door come in

she said

i’ve got a surprise for you

in the sitting room next to mrs cottrell

henry saw a wonderful woman

beautifully dressed in black

when she turned to look at him

henry suddenly recognized her

it was ruth

then he remembered that ruth had married

a rich man

mr capron smith

who had recently died

well henry

she said softly

well ruth

conversation was not difficult

ruth was talking about a holiday in

switzerland

henry listened with interest

after a few minutes the front door

opened

and mr cottrell was heard in the hall

he did not come into the sitting room

so mrs cottrell went out to speak to him

when she came back

she was crying

it’s the bank

she cried

after all these years and now

suddenly

all his

money

nelly and ruth ran to her

and henry decided it was probably better

to leave

but as he walked into the hall

he met councillor cottrell

he was looking very worried

ah

henry

he said

you’re a friend of the family

we’ve no secrets from you i’m afraid

things are looking bad

the fact is

the bank wants its money and

i can’t pay

what are you going to do

asked henry

we’ll all go to canada

my brother lives there

he’s in the building business

he’ll give me a job

it’s stupid really

i only need two thousand pounds for a

month or two until i sell the houses i’m

building

i say

he continued

you don’t have a thousand or two do you

young man

they’ll be an excellent prophet in two

or three months

you and i have been friends for ten

years

and i suppose i’ve come to visit you

once a fortnight

answered henry

perhaps

250 times in 10 years

that’s 8 pounds a visit cultural

that’s more expensive than the most

fashionable doctor in england

this conversation

does not make daenry look very kind

but counsellor cottrell had called him

young man

too many times

several weeks later the cottrells left

bursley and took the train to liverpool

where they would take the ship to canada

on the day they left the five towns

daenery happened to meet ruth in the

street

did you know they had the cheapest

tickets for the ship

she said it’s terrible

and it’s too late to change them now

no it isn’t

said henry

i could go to liverpool and arrange it

the ship doesn’t leave until tomorrow

let’s both go

she said

and will pay half each for their new

tickets

they had a very pleasant train journey

ruth was warm and friendly to denri

and as the train pulled into liverpool

he had a very strange thought

i could still marry her

she’s a fine woman

and now she’s rich herself

they found the cottrells and paid for

them to travel in a more comfortable

part of the ship

mr cottrell said he would repay them

mrs cottrell cried

and nelly said nothing at all

the ship’s bell rang for the second time

henry and ruth said their goodbyes and

started to leave

then henry looked back

and saw nelly’s sad little face

he felt as he had never felt before in

his life

he wondered what was happening to his

legs

he turned and ran back to nelly

look here

he whispered come with me for a moment

there’s something i want to give you

i left it in the taxi

ruth was already lost in the crowds of

people leaving the ship

but there’s not time

the bell

it’ll only take a minute quick

without waiting to argue he took her

hand

pulled her off the ship and towards a

taxi

which taxi is yours

asked nelly

anyone it doesn’t matter

jump in

he pushed her in

i’ll miss the boat

i know you will

i don’t want you to go to canada

what are you going to do with me

whispered nelly

well what do you think

shouted henry

i’m going to marry you of course

one evening

counselor henry machin sat down to tea

with his wife nelly in the house in

bleakridge

he opened the newspaper and read aloud

sudden death of councillor bloor

man

said nelly

and he was going to be mayor in november

wasn’t he

so he was

said henry

who will be mayor now

barlow i suppose

said henry

farlow

he’s an awful man

nobody likes barlow

why don’t they make you mayor

would you like to be mayor s

i don’t know

why not

i probably will be mayor after barlow

but i want to be the youngest mayor

which means i’ll have to do it this year

while i’m still 33.

who decides

the council of course

but you’re right

nobody likes barlow

and he’s having a lot of problems with

the football club

he’s the chairman you know

bursley football club was having a very

bad year

in fact it had had several very bad

years

it lost most of its games and

because not many people wanted to see

bursley lose

few people went to watch the games

a few days after daenerys conversation

with nelly

there was a crowded meeting at the town

hall to discuss the club’s future

barlow the chairman

got up to speak

i’ve been chairman of this club for 13

years

in that time

i’ve put 2 000 pounds of my own money

into the club

i can’t put in any more

but what have you the people of bursley

done for your club

you don’t come and watch

if we lose a game

you stay at home the next week

we lose 50 or 60 pounds every time we

play

and we can’t go on like this

several other people stood up to speak

most of them had nothing kind to say

about councillor barlow

all of them said that the club needed

new players

new players

said barlow

where’s the money for new players

has anybody got a thousand pounds

nobody offered money

but more speakers stood up to ask for

new players

finally

a man at the back of the hall stood up

and walked up to the front

it’s made shin

said somebody

good old machine

henry turned and looked at the sea of

faces

i don’t know a lot about football

he said

although i enjoy a good game

but i do want to say something about new

players

isn’t it true that one of the best

players in england comes from bursley

yes

shouted the crowd

callier

he’s the best player in england

that’s right

caliar

he left bursley when he was 19 to play

for liverpool

he scored a lot of goals there in three

years

then he went to york didn’t he

and york have some money problems now i

hear

and want to sell some of their players

gentlemen

khalia must come back home

to bursley

the crowd in the hall were now very

noisy and excited

barlow jumped angrily to his feet

and how are we going to get calyar

counselor machine says he doesn’t know

much about football

and it’s true

aston villa have already offered

700 pounds for caliar

blackburn have offered

750 pounds

has anybody here got 800

pounds

have you finished

asked henry who was still standing

the hall exploded with laughter

now

called henry

mr cagliar

will you please come up to the front of

the hall

the hall was suddenly silent

a tall young man walked nervously down

to the front of the hall

that’s him

said somebody

it’s kalyan

good old caliar good old machine

well

asked henry turning to barlow

do you want him

yes but what about the money

that’s my problem

i’ve just come back from york

if you want him

you can have him

two days later

a letter appeared in the signal

it said that denri should be the next

mayor

other letters followed saying the same

thing and that bursley needed a young

and popular mayor

and when the council met

it agreed

that evening

denri told nelly

you’ll be the mayor s to the youngest

mayor

and it’s cost me with hotels and travel

about 811

pounds

after the meeting

a group of counsellors were talking

about denri

what a card

said one laughing

there’s never been a man like him in all

the five towns

said another

but he’s never done a day’s work in his

life

said barlow

what’s he done for the town

what’s he done

he’s made us all laugh

that’s what he’s done

you