The Nether World

of male and female. Forth they streamed from factories and workrooms, anxious to make the most of the few hours during which they might live fo

into a misty radiance; overhead was mere blackness, whence descended the lashing rain. There was a ceaseless scattering of mud; there were blocks in the traffic, attended with rough jest or angry curse; there was jostling on the

ere the main thoroughfares consist of shops and warehouses and workrooms, whilst the streets that are hidden away on either hand are devoted in the main to dwellings Here every alley is thronged with small industries; all but every door and window exhibits the advertisement of a craft that is carried on within. Here you may see how men have multiplied toil for toil’s sake, have wrought to devise work superfluous, have worn their lives away in imagining new forms of weariness. The energy, the ingenuity daily put forth in these grimy b

ere sunshine and free air are forgotten things, where families herd together in dear-rented garrets and cellars, craftsmen are for ever handling jewellery, shaping bright ornaments for the necks and arms of such as are born to the joy of life. Wealth inestimable is ever flowing through these workshops, and the hands that have been stained with gold-dust may, as likely as not, some day extend themselves in petition for a crust. In this house, as th

new that reprimand was inevitable on her return, be she ever so speedy; but her nature was incapable alike of rebellion and of that sullen callousness which would have come to the aid of most girls in her position. She did not serve her tyrants with willingness, for their brutality fill

t all that she understood by the word ‘friend.’ It was seldom that words were exchanged between them; the opportunity came scarcely oftener than once a month; but whenever it did come, it made a bright moment in her existence. Once before she had fetched him of an evening to see Mrs. Hewett, and as they walked together he had spoken with what seemed to her wonderful

ng Jeweller.’ It was just possible that the men had already left; she waited for several minutes with anxiou

Kirkwood hasn’t

ing back, he called to some one within the doorway; ‘

saw a familiar figure; she advanced a

good-naturedly, Kirkwood strode away by the girl’s side. He seemed to be absent-minded, and for so

running about in weather like this.’ He touche

e growl, and immediately he s

ght over your head. Do

ing. With her hunger for kind and gentle words, she thought nothing of the character of the night,

, when they were walking on again.

. As he kept silence and walked so quickly, speech on her part was utterly forbidden. Kirkwood, however, suddenly remembered that his strides were disproportionate to

warmer so?

yes,

u got a jac

ir. They’re goin’ to h

which alone Jane ventur

hink they’d better

it entered into her blood and warmed it!

too quick

irkwood, please, t

n itself, but timidity cut it shor

g you wanted to

ublic-house. The young man listened with much attention, walking very slowly. He got her to re

ust too late!’ he exclaimed with anno

k, sir,’ Jane

at the inquirer would pursue his search with success,

‘Perhaps I might see him. He’d be

ell him, sir,’ J

ould. You’d like me

re. Her companion looked down at her agai

ne. Things’ll be bette

think

have conveyed. Sidney muttered to himself, as he had done before, like

he ghastly head, now happily concealed by darkness. Jane stopped a little s

she said, return

s used to. Other men who came to the house took every opportunity of paying her broad compliments, and some went so far as to offer practical testimony of their admiration. Sidney merely had a ‘How do you do, miss?’ at her service. Coquetry had failed to soften him; Clem accordingly behaved as if he had

I b’lieve,’ said Clem, as i

I do,’ was S

and states of feeling; the stains on the wall (had it been daylight), the irregularities of the bare wooden steps, were remembrancers of projects a

the floor near the fire; a boy of four was playing with pieces of fire-wood at the table. The remaining child was an infant, born but a fortnight ago, lying at its mother’s breast. Mrs. Hewett sat on the bed, and bent forward in an attitude of physical weakness. Her age was twenty-seven, but she looked several years older. At nineteen she had married; her husband, John Hewett, having two children by a previous union. Her face could never have been very attractive, but it was good-natured, and wore its pleasantest aspect as she smiled on Sidney’s entrance. You would have classed her at once with those feeble-willed, weak-minded, yet kindly

ir clothing hung very loosely upon them; their flesh

up to the bed a

first. It’s a bad night, isn’t it? Yes, I feel it in my throat, and it goes right through my chest — just ’ere, look! And I have

me still?’ asked Sidney, d

, an’ that’s the truth. I’ll go to the Orspital, an’ t

s to be out of bed,’ returned th

she’ll give Clara five shillin’ a week, as well as board an’ lodge her. I don’t know what to do about it, that I don’t. Clara, she’s that set on goin’, an’ her f

il likewise. Kirkwood looked about the

med suddenly, turning to her. ‘Does sh

ead miserably; her ey

now I have, Sidney! She’s that ‘eadstrong, it seems as if she woul

he inquired abruptly. ‘Do yo

another ’ouse, when he might just as well make all the savin’ he can. But no, that ain’t his idea, nor yet his sister’s. I suppose it’s their mother as they take after, though their father he won’t own to it, an’ I don’t blame him for not speakin’ ill of her as is gone. I should be that wretched if I th

tering his own wretchedness, which he could not al

ch longer before he gets work. And look here, Mrs. Hewett, I won’t hear a w

Once begin that, an’ it’s all up; you never earn no more of your own.” It’

is, he’s an unreasona

sh! Never say that! It’s

never have any peace till she does, I can see that. Why shouldn’t she go, after all? She’s seventeen;

dvice; he threw out his hands impatiently, and then flung

omes to that girl, her father’ll go out of his ‘ead. I know he will! I know he will! He worships the ground as she walks on, an’ if it hadn’t been for that, she’d never have given him the trouble as she is doin’. It ‘ud a been better for her if she’d had a father like mine, as was a har

irkwood, with kindly firmness. ‘That’s lon

ws, an’ that’s partly why she mak

it! She’s a goo

him, and had a face of singular attractiveness, clear-complexioned, delicate featured, a-gleam with intelligence. The intelligence was perhaps even too pronounced; seen in profile, the countenance had an excessiv

ther?’ he asked, searching in various cor

rated Mrs. Hewett. ‘You’ll find it on the mant

s very black, and shone as if from the manipulation of metals, he held a sm

sented a racehorse at full speed, a jockey rising in

psom Spring Meetin’,’ he sa

different nod, he fl

ersation, there was another step at the door, and the