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The Satyr
by
“All right, I know. If she had not kissed you, you would have said so. But, seeing that she did kiss you, why on earth did she complain to Mrs Dewlop?”
“She never did. She wrote a letter to a girl friend of hers, and left it lying about. Mrs Dewlop read it. Now, what do you think?”
Myra considered a moment. “I think,” she said deliberately, “that Dora was a braggart, and that Mrs Dewlop was a sneak, and–er–not very wise, and that you—-“
“Do you also think me a satyr?”
“Of course not. You were all wrong, but you were just a baby.”
He gave a sigh of relief.
“It makes me angry,” said Myra impulsively. “What right had that woman to ruin you, and turn you into a cab-driver?”
“I must explain further. It is true that she refused me any kind of a character, and that my teaching career was closed. But I am not exactly a cab-driver. When I was turned out I had to give up the idea of making a living by art. I could no longer teach, and modern pictures sell seldom and badly. But I had another string to my bow. I understand motors, and I had had plenty of driving experience. An uncle of mine is in the motor business to some considerable extent. Amongst other things, he is a director and principal share-holder in the company from which you hired your car. He has often asked me to join him, and now I did so. He is a thorough sort of man, and he insisted that I should go through every side. I’ve washed cars; for three months I was an ordinary mechanic; I’ve been in the office; the last few weeks I’ve been driving these privately let cars, and picking up some interesting information as to the amount of tips that the drivers get. Next week I shall be a manager. Well, now, I saw your order when it came in. I remembered you very well–very well, indeed. I determined to drive you myself–to be your good servant, if that was all that was possible, but to be as much more as you would let me be.”
As the car purred smoothly through the dusk in the direction of the northern suburb where Myra had her inexpensive lodging, Davenant said: “Then you will give notice that you leave at the end of next term, darling?”
And she said: “Yes, dearest.”