Deaf House Agent

Katherine Mansfield

That deaf old man
With his hand to his ear--
His hand to hi head stood out like a shell,
Horny and hollow.  He said, "I can't hear,"
He muttered, "Don't shout,
I can hear very well!"

He mumbled, "I can't catch a word;
I can't follow."
Then Jack with a voice like a Protestant bell
Roared--"Particulars! Farmhouse! At 10 quid a year!"
"I dunno wot place you are talking about."
Said the deaf old man.
Said Jack, "What the Hell!"
     But the deaf old man took a pin from his desk, picked
          a piece of wool the size of a hen's egg from his ear,
          had a good look at it, decided in its favour and re-
          placed it in the aforementioned organ.

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