In a pudding shop near my house, many delicious things are laid out in a row. Here you are allowed to sample* them before coming to a decision.
One day, I asked the shop1whether some people, who didn't want to buy puddings, would take advantage of having samples. And I learned it was exactly the2. "There's one old gentleman, for example, he comes here almost every week." she told me, "He has every sample, though he3buys a single one, and I doubt..."
She was still speaking when an elderly gentleman walked4the shop. "That's the very gentleman I've been telling you about," whispered she. "Just watch5now." And then turning to the man:
"Would you like to sample them, sir? Here's a spoon for you to use."
The elderly gentleman,6but tidily dressed, accepted the spoon and began eagerly to sample one after another of the puddings. "This is quite good." "This is not bad either,7a little too heavy." I was sure he didn't feel that he was in any way8the shop. I felt pity for the man and went up to him:
"Pardon me, sir? Let me9you one of these puddings.
He jumped back as if he had been stung*, and the blood rushed into his face, making it10.
"Excuse me," he said, "undoubtedly you have11me for someone else. I've never seen you. And with a quick decision he turned to the shop girl and said in a12voice, "Kindly pack* me up this one please! I'll take it! Everyone turned to him as he13one of the largest and most expensive of the puddings.
The girl took down the pudding from its stand, while he pulled out a worn little pocketbook and began counting out shillings* and pennies. How I wished for the14to unsay my silly words! It was too late though, and I felt that the15thing I could do now would be walk away. And that was the last I saw or heard of the old man. Now he can never come here to sample puddings any more.
