Demos

end of it a large joint of cold meat, at the other a vast flee-pudding, already diminished by attack, and she was now slicing a conglomera

d homely comfort to the room. It was not the kitchen of pinched or slovenly working folk; the air had a scent of cleanliness, of freshly scrubbed boards and polished metal, and the furniture was s

look of one who, conscious of responsibilities, yet feels equal to them; on the whole a kindly and contented face, if lacking the su

he murmured to herself as she finished slicing the vege

, though pale and anxious-looking. The visitor's dress was very plain, and indicated poverty; she wore a long black

e asked, seeing t

nd 'Arry had ought to be back by now. Sit you down to the table, and I'll put o

girl, whose name was Emma Vine. 'I only ran in to t

g-pan over the fire, turning the c

ed, looking over her shoulder. 'Wh

h every time. We didn't expect she'd e

eumatics is, to be sure! And you'

rd w

had got to you. He's los

he girl repeated,

at every street corner. I've been looking for it every week. Yesterday one of the guvnors calls him up and tells him-just in a few civil words-as pe

was very honest and gentle, with pathetic meanings for whoso had the eye to catch them; a peculiar mobility of the lips somehow made one think that she had often to exert herself to keep down tears. She spoke in a subdue

ced at her and sh

in' if someone had left him a fortune. He says it's the best thing as could happen. Nay, I can't explain; he'll tell you plenty soon as he gets in.

lst this conversation went on; th

lf-control. 'That 'Arry gets later every Sunday, and he kn

it,' said E

Dick if he caught me a-send

mind it

? What it is to have a girl that age! I wish they was all like you, Emma. Get on with your supper, I tell you, or you'll make me ang

t place?' Emma inquired. She was try

his own self to think about Don't you think you could make him see that? If anyone has a right to speak, it's you. Tell him as he

that!' murmured Emm

re was a noise above as of

laughin'? Now, don't you be so ready to laugh with hi

k. The next moment the kitchen door was thrown open, and two young men appeared. The on

elessly. 'Mother been putting you out of spirits, I suppose? Why, it's grand; the best t

e of bodily training. But the comparison, on the whole, was to Richard's advantage. By no possibility could he have assumed that aristocratic vacuity of visage which comes of carefully induced cerebral atrophy. The air of the workshop suffered little colour to dwell upon his cheeks; but to features of so pronounced and intelligent a type this pallor added a distinction. He had dark brown hair, thick and long, and a cropped beard of hue somewhat lighter. His eyes were his mother's-keen and direct; but they had small variety of expression; you could not imagine them softening to tenderness, or even to thoughtful

m his face freely; all the capacity and the vigour which impelled him to strain against the strait bonds of his lot set his body quivering and made music of his utterance. At the same time, his

ccuracy of razor-play would make his chin white. A man of immense strength, but bull-necked and altogether ungainly-his heavy fist, with its black veins and terrific knuckles, suggested primitive methods of settling dispute; the stumpy fingers, engrimed hopelessly, and the filthy b

of these fine doings, Mr. Da

d of him, finding him a dangerous enemy, you see. It was all fair and above board. Young Stephen Longwood ups an' says-leastways not in these words, but them as means the same-says he, "Look 'ere, Mutimer," he says, "we've no fault to find with you as a workman, but from what we

'before you begin your sermon,

theory to practice. Beer squares all-leastways for the time being-only for the time b

bsence. 'The great point gained is, they've shown they're afraid of me. We'll wr

ly wages to come from?

me all round; the more of that kind of thing the be

hard. It was plain how pride struggled with anxiety in her mind. When Richard had ke

again, Richa

m a great distance; his endeavour to l

e fever

s,' she re

rk in the we

of another case against capitalism. Emma's sister had to go a long way to her daily employment, and could not afford

a general move to the table. Richard began to carve roast beef like a freeman, not by any me

iel, with constraint not solely due

hould think,' was Mrs. Mutimer's

he occasion, and to applaud the martyrdom of others was as cheery an occupation as could be asked; Daniel had no idea of sacrificing his own weekly wages, and therein resembled most of those who had been loud in uncompromising rhetoric. Richard, on the other hand, was unmistakably zealous. His sense of humour was not strong, and in any case he would have upheld the serious dignity of his own position. One saw from his way of speaking, that he believed himself about to become a popular hero; already in imagination he sto

well-chosen boot she was, in line and structure, the type of mature woman. Her face, if it did not indicate a mind to match her frame, was at the least sweet-featured and provoking; characterless somewhat, but void of danger-signals; doubtless too good to be merely played with; in any case, very capable of sending a ray, in one moment or another, to the shadowy dreaming-place of graver thoughts. Alice Maud Mutimer was nineteen. For two years she had been thus tall, but th

hen the direction of Mrs. Mutimer's eyes at length caused R

e! I heard you ou

r, intercepted her. The girl gave him her hand, and, by way of being

o, I tell you! How dare you?

ghed obstr

blow that 'ud be! Only the left h

ap on the back, and ran round to the other side o

xclaimed. 'You haven't dr

Why, there ain't more than 'arf a pint; t

lass to her lips, and-emptied it. Then she threw off hat, tippet, and gl

't-you don't say as t

as deeply

'I knew what it 'ud be! I meant to a' got them

of much dejection. Her pretty lips gr

The idea of cold me

ing time yet. I can get a pickle at the "D

lily, half smilin

'I like to see strong me

of her class if she had not relished this pungent dainty. Fish of any kind, green vegetables, eggs and bacon, with all these a drench of vinegar was indispensable to her. And she proceeded to eat a s

asked, pushing the tumbler to the quiet gir

e same time rose from the table, saying as

was the reply. 'Shall you

ight, I do

said that he would walk a little way with her. In the passage above, which was

d, looking up into his face as the

aldwin's any day. But I dare

want

lau

t men who can give their whole time to the struggle-to go about

ef that he knew one man not i

pay you?' Emma i

kind are inevita

odour, which stole from closed shops and warehouses, and hung heavily on the still air. The public-houses had just extinguished their lights, and in the neighbourhood of each was a cluster of lingering men and women, merry or disputatiou

tself and became a street of four-storeyed houses. At present this could not be discerned; the passage

had the

ad going to the hospital again. Each

t; he drew it out and pressed s

id, dropping her eyes.

ou'll have to get her what the doctor orders,

kind, Richard. But

call me Dick? I've meant t

face away, movi

ps I want to make a difference

th a sound of

e; it's a cold night. Try an

, I

as he held her hand, bent

ed and looked up at one of the black houses. There were lights, more or less curtain-dimmed, in

nt was the youngest member of the family, known as 'Arry; even Richard, who had learnt to be somewhat careful in his pronunciation, could not bestow the aspirate upon his brother's name. Henry, aged seventeen, promised to do credit to the Mutimers in physical completeness; already he was nearly as tall as his eldest brother; and, even in his lankness, showed the beginnings of well-proportioned vigour. But the shape of his head, whi

saying. 'Sunday or Monday, it's no matter; you'll be home before elev

ed upon the leg, a huff waistcoat, a short coat with pockets everywhere. A very high collar kept his head up against his will; his necktie was crimson, and passed through a brass ring; he wore a

looseness of utterance. 'I'm as sober 's anybody in this room

, Saturday and Sunday. Get up and go to bed! I'll h

lad with scorn. 'Tell yo

lace, and was regarding his brother with anger and c

! What's more, you'll do as your mother bids you,

be disregarded. 'Arry

do with it? You'

observed, yet more autocratically.

or. His motion was slinking; he could not face Ri