文档介绍：THE WHEELS OF CHANCE; A BICYCLING IDYLL
THE WHEELS OF
CHANCE
A BICYCLING IDYLL
. Wells
1896
1
THE WHEELS OF CHANCE; A BICYCLING IDYLL
THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTER
IN THE STORY
I
If you (presuming you are of the sex that does such things)--if you had
gone into the Drapery Emporium--which is really only magnificent for
shop--of Messrs. Antrobus & Co.--a perfectly fictitious "Co.," by the bye--
of Putney, on the 14th of August, 1895, had turned to the right-hand side,
where the blocks of white linen and piles of blankets rise up to the rail
from which the pink and blue prints depend, you might have been served
by the central figure of this story that is now beginning. He would have
come forward, bowing and swaying, he would have extended two hands
with largish knuckles and enormous cuffs over the counter, and he would
have asked you, protruding a pointed chin and without the slightest
anticipation of pleasure in his manner, what he might have the pleasure of
showing you. Under certain circumstances--as, for instance, hats, baby
linen, gloves, silks, lace, or curtains--he would simply have bowed politely,
and with a drooping expression, and making a kind of circular sweep,
invited you to "step this way," and so led you beyond his ken; but under
other and happier conditions,--huckaback, blankets, dimity, cretonne, linen,
calico, are cases in point,--he would have requested you to take a seat,
emphasising the hospitality by leaning over the counter and gripping a
chair back in a spasmodic manner, and so proceeded to obtain, unfold, and
exhibit his goods for your consideration. Under which happier
circumstances you might--if of an observing turn of mind and not too
much of a housewife to be inhuman--have given the central figure of this
story less cursory attention.
Now if you had noticed anything about him, it would have been
chiefly to notice how little he was noticeable. He wore the black morning
coat, the black tie, and the s