An interview for a job
There was evidently much difficulty in finding work, for when Philip arrived many men were waiting already. He recognized some whom he had seen in his own searching, and there was one whom he had noticed lying about the park in the afternoon. To Philip now that suggested that he was as homeless as himself and passed the night out of doors. The men where of all sorts, old and young, tall and short; bu 13413s189n t every one had tried to make himself smart* for the interview with the manager: they had carefully brushed hair and scrupulously clean hands. The manager was reading a letter. He was a florid* man, with sandy* hair and a large sandy moustache; from the middle of his watch-chain hung a bunch of football medals. He sat in his shirt-sleeves at a large desk with a telephone by his side. He gave Philip a glance but did not speak to him; he dictated a letter to the typist, a girl who sat at a small table in one corner; then he asked Philip his name, age, and what experience he had had.
'I think Mr. Athelny has spoken to you about me, 'said Philip.
'Oh, you are the young feller* who did that poster?'
'Yes, sir.'
'No good to us, you know, not a bit of good.'
He looked Philip up and down. He seemed to notice that Philip was in some way different from the men who had preceded him.
'You seem a respectable young feller. I suppose you found art didn't pay he said.
Philip could not tell whether he meant* to engage him or not. He threw remarks at him in a hostile way.
'Where's your home? '
'My father and mother died when I was a child.'
'I like to give young fellers a chance. Many's the one I've given their chance to, and they're managers of departments now. And they're grateful to me, I'll say that for them. They know what I done* for them. Start at the bottom of the ladder, that's the only way to learn the business, and then if you stick to it there's no knowing* what it can lead to. If you suit, one of these days you may find yourself in a position* like what mine is. Bear that in mind, young feller.'
'I'm very anxious* to do my best, sir said Philip.
He knew that he must put in the 'sir ' whenever he could, but it sounded odd to him, and he was afraid of overdoing it. The manager liked talking. It gave him a happy consciousness of his own importance, and he did not give Philip his decision till he had used a great many words.
'Well, I daresay* you'll do he said at last, in a pompous way. 'Anyhow I don't mind giving you a trial*.'
'Thank you very much, sir.'
W. Somerset MAUGHAM: Of Human Bondage (abridget).
Reprinted by permission of the Estate of the Late Somerset Maugham.
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