30 APRIL 1994, Page 31

Grace and Favour

The shop bell's whanging coil, their entry's imprimatur, boxed provisions carried for them to the boot: We'll settle up next week if that's acceptable. The cost of it. I've found a little man who doesn't charge . . .

We grew to judgement by the names our mothers gave them. Mrs so and so, and all above themselves although they practised charity and sat in church. This was our inheritance of grace and favour, the old bitch gossip and small kindnesses.

John Mole