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as she read it in her turn； as if a great burden had been lifted from her heart。 All the undefined terror of the future faded away as she thought of all this small piece of paper made possible。
Meanwhile； Frankie； at the window； was straining his eyes in the direction of the station。
‘Don't you think we'd better have the window open now； Dad？' he said at last as the clock struck eight。 ‘The steam keeps coming on the glass as fast as I wipe it off and I can't see out properly。 I'm sure it's nearly time now； p'raps our clock isn't as fast as you think it is。'
‘All right； we'll have it open now； so as to be on the safe side；' said Owen as he stood up and raised the sash； and Nora； having wrapped the child up in a shawl； joined them at the window。
‘It can't be much longer now； you know；' said Frankie。 ‘The line's clear。 They turned the red light off the signal just before you opened the window。'
In a very few minutes they heard the whistle of the locomotive as it drew out of the station； then； an instant before the engine itself came into sight round the bend； the brightly polished rails were illuminated； shining like burnished gold in the glare of its headlight； a few seconds afterwards the train emerged into view； gathering speed as it came along the short stretch of straight way； and a moment later it thundered across the bridge。 It was too far away to recognize his face； but they saw someone looking out of a carriage window waving a handkerchief； and they knew it was Barrington as they waved theirs in return。 Soon there remained nothing visible of the train except the lights at the rear of the guard's van； and presently even those vanished into the surrounding darkness。
The lofty window at which they were standing overlooked several of the adjacent streets and a great part of the town。 On the other side of the road were several empty houses； bristling with different house agents' advertisement boards and bills。 About twenty yards away； the shop formerly tenanted by Mr Smallman； the grocer； who had become bankrupt two or three months previously； was also plastered with similar decorations。 A little further on； at the opposite corner； were the premises of the Monopole Provision Stores； where brilliant lights were just being extinguished； for they； like most of the other shops； were closing their premises for the night； and the streets took on a more cheerless air as one after another their lights disappeared。
It had been a fine day； and during the earlier part of the evening the moon； nearly at the full； had been shining in a clear and starry sky； but a strong north…east wind had sprung up within the last hour； the weather had become bitterly cold and the stars were rapidly being concealed from view by the dense banks of clouds that were slowly accumulating overhead。
As they remained at the window looking out over this scene for a few minutes after the train had passed out of sight； it seemed to Owen that the gathering darkness was as a curtain that concealed from view the Infamy existing beyond。 In every country； myriads of armed men waiting for their masters to give them the signal to fall upon and rend each other like wild beasts。 All around was a state of dreadful anarchy； abundant riches； luxury； vice； hypocrisy； poverty； starvation； and crime。 Men literally fighting with each other for the privilege of working for their bread； and little children crying with hunger and cold and slowly perishing of want。
The gloomy shadows enshrouding the streets； concealing for the time their grey and mournful air of poverty and hidden suffering； and the black masses of cloud gathering so menacingly in the tempestuous sky； seemed typical of the Nemesis which was overtaking the Capitalist System。 That atrocious system which； having attained to the fullest measure of detestable injustice and cruelty； was now fast crumbling into ruin； inevitably doomed to be overwhelmed because it was all so wicked and abominable； inevitably doomed to sink under the blight and curse of senseless and unprofitable selfishness out of existence for ever； its memory universally execrated and abhorred。
But from these ruins was surely growing the glorious fabric of the Co…operative Commonwealth。 Mankind； awaking from the long night of bondage and mourning and arising from the dust wherein they had lain prone so long； were at last looking upward to the light that was riving asunder and dissolving the dark clouds which had so long concealed from them the face of heaven。 The light that will shine upon the world wide Fatherland and illumine the gilded domes and glittering pinnacles of the beautiful cities of the future； where men shall dwell together in true brotherhood and goodwill and joy。 The Golden Light that will be diffused throughout all the happy world from the rays of the risen sun of Socialism。
Appendix
Mugsborough
Mugsborough was a town of about eighty thousand inhabitants； about two hundred miles from London。 It was built in a verdant valley。 Looking west； north or east from the vicinity of the fountain on the Grand Parade in the centre of the town； one saw a succession of pine…clad hills。 To the south； as far as the eye could see； stretched a vast； cultivated plain that extended to the south coast； one hundred miles away。 The climate was supposed to be cool in summer and mild in winter。
The town proper nestled in the valley： to the west； the most beautiful and sheltered part was the suburb of Irene： here were the homes of the wealthy residents and prosperous tradespeople； and numerous boarding…houses for the accommodation of well…to…do visitors。 East； the town extended up the slope to the top of the hill and down the other side to the suburb of Windley； where the majority of the working classes lived。
Years ago； when the facilities for foreign travel were fewer and more costly； Mugsborough was a favourite resort of the upper classes； but of late years most of these patriots have adopted the practice of going on the Continent to spend the money they obtain from the working people of England。 However； Mugsborough still retained some semblance of prosperity。 Summer or winter the place was usually fairly full of what were called good…class visitors； either holidaymakers or invalids。 The Grand Parade was generally crowded with well…dressed people and carriages。 The shops appeared to be well…patronized and at the time of our story an air of prosperity pervaded the town。 But this fair outward appearance was deceitful。 The town was really a vast whited sepulchre； for notwithstanding the natural advantages of the place the majority of the inhabitants existed in a state of perpetual poverty which in many cases bordered on destitution。 One of the reasons for this was that a great part of the incomes of the tradespeople and boarding…house…keepers and about a third of the wages of the working classes were paid away as rent and rates。
For years the Corporation had been borrowing money for necessary public works and improvements； and as the indebtedness of the town increased the rates rose in proportion； because the only works and services undertaken by the Council were such as did not yield rev