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"Well, Foreman, I've discussed the matter with these gentlemen
and they agree with me that the situation is impossible. At a church
like St. Peter's we cannot have a verger who can neither read nor
write."
Albert Edward's thin, pale face reddened but he did not reply.
"But couldn't you learn, Foreman?" asked one of the
churchwardens.
"No, sir, I'm afraid I couldn't, not now. You see I'm not as
young as I was. I've lived many years without knowing how to read
and write and I don't want to learn now."
"In that case, Foreman, I'm afraid you must go."
"Yes, sir, I understand."
Later, he put on his coat and walked out of the church. He went
across the square, but deep in his sad thoughts he did not walk along
the street that led him home, where a nice strong cup of tea awaited
him; he turned into the wrong street. He walked slowly. His heart was
heavy. He didn't know what to do with himself. He didn't want to
become a servant again. He had saved a tidy sum, but not enough to
live on without doing something, and life costed more every year. He
sighed deeply. Albert Edward was a non-smoker and a total abstainer,
but he liked a glass of beer with his dinner and when he was tired he
enjoyed a cigarette.
He thought that a cigarette would comfort him now and since
he did not carry them he looked for a shop where he could buy a
packet of cigarettes.
He did not at once see one and walked on a little.
It was a long street, with all sorts of shops in it, but there was
not a single one where you could buy cigarettes.
"That's strange," said Albert Edward.
To make sure he walked along the street again. No, there was
no doubt about it. He stopped and thought.
"I can't be the only man that walks along this street and wants
to have a smoke," he said. "If some fellow opened a little shop here
he might make good money. Tobacco and sweets, you know."
He turned, walked home, and had his tea.
"You're very silent this afternoon, Albert," his wife remarked.
"I 'm thinking," he said.
He thought the matter over from every point of view and next
day he went along the street and by good luck found a little shop to