"Of course he don't,"said the other with a leer."He learns a lot here by lookin'on,an'she tells him the rest at Mosman in the pale moonlight.
If I won a sweep,I'd take a few lessons meself an'cut him out."He became aware that Miss Giltinan was standing behind him,and raised his voice.
"I was tellin'Harris that the price of these bluchers ought to be marked down;they're beginning to sweat,"he explained,turning to Miss Giltinan and showing her some small spots like treacle on the uppers.
"Mr Jones doesn't pay you good money to talk behind his back;and if you take the trouble to look at the tag,you'll see those boots have already been marked down,"she replied indignantly.
The shopman slinked away without a word.Miss Giltinan was annoyed.
It was not the first time that she had heard these scandalous rumours,for the shop was alive with whispers,some professing to know every detail of the meetings between Jonah and the music-teacher,naming to a minute the boat they caught on their return from Mosman.Jonah had contrived to avoid the faces that were familiar to him,but he had forgotten that he must be seen and recognized by people unknown to him.Miss Giltinan's clear and candid mind rejected these rumours for lying inventions,incapable of belief that her idol,Jonah,would carry on with any woman.
They talked about him going upstairs to hear the piano.What was more natural when he couldn't play it himself?And she dismissed the matter from her mind and went about her business.
Clara gave Ray his lesson,listening between whiles for a rapid step from below,but none came.She decided to go,and picked up her gloves.But as she passed the bedroom door on the landing,a voice that she recognized for Ada's called out "Is that you,Miss Grimes?""Yes,"said Clara,and paused.
The voice sounded faint and thin,like that of a sick woman.
"'Ow is it y'ain't playin'anythin'to-day?"she continued.