"Law!" she said, her face softening with relief, "I thought you were

Jim."

I'm never Jim," said Mr. Polly.

You've got his sort of hat."

Ah!" said Mr. Polly, and leant over the bar.

It just came into my head you was Jim," said the plump lady,

dismissed the topic and stood up. "I believe I was having forty

winks," she said, "if all the truth was told. What can I do for you?"

Cold meat?" said Mr. Polly.

There is cold meat," the plump woman admitted.

And room for it."

The plump woman came and leant over the bar and regarded him

judicially, but kindly. "There's some cold boiled beef," she said, and

added: "A bit of crisp lettuce?"

New mustard," said Mr. Polly.

263

The History of Mr Polly