The Geographer's Library

The Geographer’ s Library
is perhaps too small and, shall we say, unimportant a crowd for Reverend
Hampden.”
“You jealous?”
“No, no. I am quite happy working as I see fit. This field is also a ministry
of sorts, you know.”
“I’ll be sure to put that in the article.”
“Yes, I do hope that you would. Are you going to meet your friend?”
“Which one?”
“Which one?” he said, giggling. “You know well which one.”
“Hannah?” He nodded. “No, I’m going to meet an old friend in Wickenden
for lunch.”
“Ah. I thought perhaps someone was getting married. Schoolboy dress so
early on a Saturday. You must call or come by the church anytime if you really
do wish to write an article about us. I hope you do.”
when i walked through the heavy mahogany front doors, then the
glass-fronted, double swinging saloon doors of the Blue Point, Professor
Jadid was sitting at a table by the window, smoking and chatting warmly with
a middle-aged couple standing over his table. Jadid sat still, attentive and
feline, while the smoke from his cigarette glittered with dust as it poured
upward through the sunbeams. Both the man and the woman were speaking
without gesticulating. They looked like a couple whose tastes had merged to
the point where they dressed, stood, and held their heads alike, naturally and
unaffectedly. Jadid saw me, grinned, half stood, and waved me over to the
table. “You’re precisely on time, Mr. Tomm. I’m glad to see you. I’d like you
to meet Mr. and Mrs. O’Sullivan, the owners and dear old friends of mine.”
The man, I saw as I approached the table, was softer and more genial in
appearance than his wife, who had a look of vague and permanent disapproval
around the corners of her mouth. He introduced himself as Jerry.
“So, you’re another graduate of the Jadid Academy of Fine Living, are you?”
I didn’t get the joke and looked from him to his wife, who didn’t seem to find
it funny. “This man here’s one of our best customers,” said Jerry, clapping
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