A chivalrous true knight in deed and thought,
Without reproach or fear. O. S.
THE PERFECT CONDUCTOR.
"Good morning, Sir," he said, as I boarded a leviathan one day last week. "What a beautiful morning, isn't it? What can I have the pleasure of doing for you?" He daftly pulled half-a-dozen tickets from his stock and permitted me to inspect them.
"Fresh in this morning, Sir," he continued. "White, one penny; a great many people prefer them because they go well with any colour. For the blue ones we are asking twopence; they have only the same amount of information but take you twice as far. Sweet shade, isn't it?" He stepped back and held one up to the light for my benefit.
"Well, I really only wanted a pennyworth, but I must have one of the blue ones—they are attractive, as you say. I shall keep it in memory of you."
"Very good of you, Sir. You won't mind my making a little hole in it? A mere matter of form; and the bell, which rings to announce the conclusion of the operation, is, as you will notice, quite musical. A sovereign? I shall be delighted to change it for you." He gave me the correct change, bowed, and turned to answer a lady passenger.
"Have we passed Sloane Street?" she had enquired.
"We passed it at least five minutes ago, madam. Were you wishing to alight there?"