-- Chocolate biscuits , chocolate biscuits , Peter kept repeating to himself . Not that he needed to keep jogging his memory ; it just fitted the rhythm of his walk and the slap of the empty rucksack on his thigh . As he passed along the village main street he kept an eye out for a possible source of supply , and noted a small grocery shop not too far from the George residence. Crossing the road and taking a quick peek through the window of the s tore , he could see right at the back , shelves of biscuit packages that looked promising .

Still , he thought it better to keep going for the moment to get his tee shirt. I might as well capitalise on the lady's offer straight away , he thought . If I don't get myself a job I might have to move on soon , and this is a good opportunity to get it mended .

He considered his best tee shirt fondly . It had been with him a long time, but it was good quality and had worn well . Almost unadorned , no loud slogans on it but with just a small logo high on the left breast , it was a plain enough to do service even for a semi-formal evening .

He moved swiftly up the path and used the key he had been given to let himself in. Ernie was nowhere to be seen , so Peter assumed that he was out in the back shed , probably composing more poems . Not particularly desirous of hearing further performances of the Village Odes , Peter made his way quietly up the stairs to his new bedroom. Almost without thinking , having had experience of the like before , he checked to see whether anything had been disturbed . Everything was just as he had left it .

Retrieving the shirt from the cupboard after laying his rucksack neatly at the foot of the bed , he moved out and down the stairs . There was still no sign of Ernie , so Peter set out for the grocery store . As he reached it he glanced up at the name above the door , and saw that it was called Alvedo's Grocery.

The store smelled like every other small grocery store that Peter had been in . It was narrow and crowded with overflowing displays , which seemed to intensify the mixed odours of foods , smallgoods , tobacco and soaps that mingled there . Just to the left inside the door was a short counter with a cash register , and behind it stood a tall , stooped , grey haired man , with the dark skin of someone from the Indian subcontinent .

-- Now he, thought Peter , could be the father of that pretty girl Jasmine in the bank .

He smiled at the man and asked :

-- Chocolate biscuits ?

-- Down at the far end of that shelf , said the man , waving in that general direction. His voice was a pleasant baritone , and though he did not return Peter's smile , he did not seem unfriendly.

Peter walked down the aisle between two sets of shelves and stopped to consider the biscuit selection .

It was an easy choice . The blue packets of Hobnobs stood out boldly , and examining their statement of ingredients , he immediately recognised that they were just what he wanted. Taking two packets , one for the lady and one to keep in his room for any quick snack he might feel like , he carried them up to the counter and asked how much .

-- One pound eighty , said the storekeeper, and after accepting a note from Peter he rang up the amount on the cash register , passing Peter his change .

-- Thanks , said Peter breezily, I reckon I 'll enjoy these .

A light smile crossed the storekeeper's face .

-- They are my best seller , he said . And my wife loves them . Too much so , I think .

-- Ah well , said Peter . It's good to keep the ladies happy .

And he left the shop and strode up the street to the craft shop.

Once again the silvery tinkle of the bell announced his entry and as before a head , this time with the hair bound up in a bandanna like arrangement , popped round the door .

-- Hello again , said the lady . You've brought the shirt .

-- Yes , said Peter , and I've brought these to go with the coffee you offered.

Her eyes lit up .

-- Hobnobs ! Oh , I dearly love Hobnobs !

-- They do seem popular . The grocer told me his wife loves them too .

The lady looked at Peter in surprise .

-- Alvedo said that ? My goodness , you must have a way with you ! Alvedo rarely says any more than to tell you the prices .

It was Peter's turn to be surprised .

-- Well . I hardly said more than two words to him !

-- Oh ? . There's a turn up , then . She headed for the back room .

-- Have look around the shop while I put that coffee on . And by the way , if you fancy anything , I have a wrapping service .

Peter moved slowly around the shop. There were numerous small tables , each with its own variety of craft goods . One held hand-made candles , another a selection of attractive coffee mugs , still another , some examples of leather work . Peter moved back to the mugs .

-- You like those ? There came a question from round the door , where the lady was probably keeping an eye on him .

-- Indeed I do . I especially like the pattern and the glaze on this one .

He held it up for inspection.

-- That's one of my own. I love that dark brown earthy colour myself .

-- It's very like the colour that a friend of mine at home uses. She's a potter .

-- Home ? And where would that be ?

Peter laughed .

-- You're the first to ask , but I would have thought you'd have picked me as an Australian . But I've never talked broad ocker , and I suppose travelling about has made me lose a bit of my accent .

The smell of brewing coffee was creeping into the shop .

-- Hang on , said the proprietress . Sit down over there and I'll bring the coffee out. Then you can tell me all about yourself .