Evening star., 1936-08-23
by HERBERT SHAW

raining like all there is 1t coming down such
pelt that the stuff bumped the wood paving and sprane
up again hard that it seemed make continuous
. series of tiny phantom flowers.
Very pretty to look at from the top of bus registered
the effect case might in useful time and looked
as much could at the girl in the green silk waterproof and
the sOuweser She very pleasant to look and
she had lovely smile She stared through the steay windows
as though the food amused her. and shame her
wasting that smile on the rain
Just then she dropped bag The clasp OPEN Things
dropped out and there she scratching about to find
thing. and looking suddenly very ANXIOUS
The conductor said, "Are you going mss2 and bent
down quickly to help her. though knew very well what the
matter was Id her face when she'd been hunting through
that bag before she had let it slip I'm She come
out without any money.
She had another frantic looksee in the bag, and couldn't
find an oat and there the conductor waiting She jumped
hated the idea of her going that torrent and getting
soaked I'd soabbed for haacown my trousers pocket
and now pretended to pick it up from the floor.
1--WE found it." I said, and held it to her.
Oh. thank YOU she said Then she the CON- and her
changed nasty change Ten per annoyance and
ninety per cent hatred with a dash of lightning.
''Nor' she said.
"Please allow me-" insisted 'Tm staying at the Maxwell
and you can send it to me there. F. Fielding"
mo"
I'm bad man to beat slipped the halfcrown into her
bag because certain doing the right thing and
she swshd round and followed the conductor down the stairs
guessed she was going inside to get far away from
possible.
But she wasn't inside the bus After the stop Hyde Park
Corner we had to wait for the north and south traffic And
saw the girl In green the pavement stepping along
though she owned half London. She smiling. though
buckesul OF rain down her at every stride She Just
didn't notice the rain.
passed word with the conductor when l leaving
the bus Oh he knew the girl green Just lately she had
regularly gotten off the bus at Hyde Park Corner He thought
she liked walking.
said supposed so, but it wasn't much of day for it,
He wrnkled his nose, and grinned happIy at me.
She's all right Gave me half when she got
said she'd come into some money!
So she of those girls are too proud to take
money from strangers rather get soaked But there
other things besides money started thinking about her
a lot.
1t rained every day-had three mornings the buses
were shufed wrong for and too late Twice in three
days my bus passed her. somewhere between Park Lane
Swan and Edgrs Same bright outfit of green same quick
moving same bright incredible smile the face of the down.
pour London's prize water baby.
On the fourth day managed to get the right bus 1t was
full on top and ammed back the other side
from her. She didn't until she the top of the
stairs. going down, at Hyde Park Corner.
There fat squeezing against the side of the
bus but managed to around Bit and touched her
arm. and smiled the incest Fielding smile.
II do wish you would take this, please
I'm prejudiced know, but really sounded very we'll No
girl could have taken offence at it. She hadn't argue
She took what l held out to her.
1t the best and smaest stumpy umbrella could buy
1t just luck that what with the fat man. and
people crowding to fill up the bus again. couldn't
to see her delight when she opened the street Not that
wanted thanks only wanted to make her right with
the rain.
When left the bus the conductor gnned at me- He was