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
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