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a Salmon and Gluckstein Tobacco Shop, and then a little shop that
displayed sweets and professed a "Tea Room Upstairs." He considered
this as a possible place in which to prosecute enquiries about his
lost wife, wavering a little between it and the God's Providence Inn
down the street. Then his eye caught a name over the window, "Polly,"
he read, "& Larkins! Well, I'm--astonished!"
A momentary faintness came upon him. He walked past and down the
street, returned and surveyed the shop again.
He saw a middle-aged, rather untidy woman standing behind the counter,
who for an instant he thought might be Miriam terribly changed, and
then recognised as his sister-in-law Annie, filled out and no longer
hilarious. She stared at him without a sign of recognition as he
entered the shop.
"Can I have tea?" said Mr. Polly.
"
Well," said Annie, "you can. But our Tea Room's upstairs.... My
sister's been cleaning it out--and it's a bit upset."
"It would be," said Mr. Polly softly.
"I beg your pardon?" said Annie.
"I said I didn't mind. Up here?"
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