“Dear me, Helen, listen to that. And he’ll have to get another place!”
“Will have? Let him leave the ship before it sinks. Let him get one now.”
“Rather than wait, to make sure?”
“Decidedly.”
“Why’s that?”
Again the Olympian laugh, and the lowered voice. “Naturally the man who’s in a situation when he applies stands a better chance, is in a stronger position, than the man who isn’t. It looks as if he’s worth something. I know by myself—(this is letting you into the State secrets)—it affects an employer greatly. Human nature, I’m afraid.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” murmured Margaret, while Helen said, “Our human nature appears to be the other way round. We employ people because they’re unemployed. The boot man, for instance.”
“And how does he clean the boots?”
“Not well,” confessed Margaret.
“There you are!”