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that；〃 he added hastily； as though he might have injured Shelton's
prejudices〃that； and drink； and anything criminal； you know。〃
〃And do you give pecuniary assistance； too？〃
〃Oh yes；〃 replied the little man； 〃if you were to come to our
committee meetings you would see for yourself。 Everything is most
carefully gone into； we endeavour to sift the wheat from the chaff。〃
〃I suppose；〃 said Shelton； 〃you find a great deal of chaff？〃
The little man smiled a suffering smile。 The twang of his toneless
voice sounded a trifle shriller。
〃I was obliged to refuse a man to…daya man and a woman； quite young
people； with three small children。 He was ill and out of work； but
on inquiry we found that they were not man and wife。〃
There was a slight pause； the little man's eyes were fastened on his
nails； and； with an appearance of enjoyment； he began to bite them。
Shelton's face had grown a trifle red。
〃And what becomes of the woman and the children in a case like that？〃
he said。
The little man's eyes began to smoulder。
〃We make a point of not encouraging sin； of course。 Excuse me a
minute； I see they've finished bagatelle。〃
He hurried off； and in a moment the clack of bagatelle began again。
He himself was playing with a cold and spurious energy； running after
the balls and exhorting the other players； upon whom a wooden
acquiescence seemed to fall。
Shelton crossed the room； and went up to young Curly。 He was sitting
on a bench； smiling to himself his private smiles。
〃Are you staying here much longer？〃 Shelton asked。
Young Curly rose with nervous haste。
〃I 'm afraid；〃 he said； 〃 there 's nobody very interesting here to…
night。〃
〃Oh； not at all！〃 said Shelton； 〃on the contrary。 Only I 've had a
rather tiring day； and somehow I don't feel up to the standard here。〃
His new acquaintance smiled。
〃Oh； really！ do you thinkthat is〃
But he had not time to finish before the clack of bagatelle balls
ceased； and the voice of the little deep…eyed man was heard saying：
〃Anybody who wants a book will put his name down。 There will be the
usual prayer…meeting on Wednesday next。 Will you all go quietly？
I am going to turn the lights out。〃
One gas…jet vanished； and the remaining jet flared suddenly。 By its
harder glare the wooden room looked harder too； and disenchanting。
The figures of its occupants began filing through the door。 The
little man was left in the centre of the room； his deep eyes
smouldering upon the backs of the retreating members； his thumb and
finger raised to the turncock of the metre。
〃Do you know this part？〃 asked young Curly as they emerged into the
street。 〃It 's really jolly； one of the darkest bits in Londonit
is really。 If you care； I can take you through an awfully dangerous
place where the police never go。〃 He seemed so anxious for the
honour that Shelton was loath to disappoint him。 〃I come here pretty
often；〃 he went on； as they ascended a sort of alley rambling darkly
between a wall and row of houses。
〃Why？〃 asked Shelton； 〃it does n't smell too nice。〃
The young man threw up his nose and sniffed； as if eager to add any
new scent that might be about to his knowledge of life。
〃No； that's one of the reasons； you know；〃 he said； 〃one must find
out。 The darkness is jolly； too； anything might happen here。 Last
week there was a murder； there 's always the chance of one。〃
Shelton stared； but the charge of morbidness would not lie against
this fresh…cheeked stripling。
〃There's a splendid drain just here；〃 his guide resumed； 〃the people
are dying like flies of typhoid in those three houses〃； and under the
first light he turned his grave； cherubic face to indicate the
houses。 〃If we were in the East End； I could show you other places
quite as good。 There's a coffee…stall keeper in one that knows all
the thieves in London； he 's a splendid type； but；〃 he added； looking
a little anxiously at Shelton； 〃it might n't be safe for you。 With
me it's different； they 're beginning to know me。 I've nothing to
take； you see。〃
〃I'm afraid it can't be to…night；〃 said Shelton； 〃 I must get back。〃
〃Do you mind if I walk with you？ It's so jolly now the stars are
out。〃
〃Delighted；〃 said Shelton； 〃do you often go to that club？〃
His companion raised his hat； and ran his fingers through his hair。
〃They 're rather too high…class for me；〃 he said。 〃I like to go
where you can see people eatschool treats； or somewhere in the
country。 It does one good to see them eat。 They don't get enough；
you see； as a rule； to make bone； it's all used up for brain and
muscle。 There are some places in the winter where they give them
bread and cocoa； I like to go to those。〃
〃I went once；〃 said Shelton； 〃 but I felt ashamed for putting my nose
in。〃
〃Oh； they don't mind； most of them are half…dead with cold； you know。
You see splendid types； lots of dipsomaniacs 。 。 。 。 It 's useful
to me；〃 he went on as they passed a police…station； 〃to walk about at
night； one can take so much more notice。 I had a jolly night last
week in Hyde Park； a chance to study human nature there。〃
〃And do you find it interesting？〃 asked Shelton。
His companion smiled。
〃Awfully；〃 he replied； 〃I saw a fellow pick three pockets。〃
〃 What did you do？〃
〃I had a jolly talk with him。〃
Shelton thought of the little deep…eyed man； who made a point of not
encouraging sin。
〃He was one of the professionals from Notting Hill； you know； told me
his life。 Never had a chance； of course。 The most interesting part
was telling him I 'd seen him pick three pocketslike creeping into
a cave； when you can't tell what 's inside。〃
〃Well？〃
〃He showed me what he 'd gotonly fivepence halfpenny。〃
〃And what became of your friend？〃 asked Shelton。
〃Oh； went off； he had a splendidly low forehead。〃
They had reached Shelton's rooms。
〃Will you come in；〃 said the latter； 〃and have a drink？〃
The youth smiled； blushed； and shook his head。
〃No； thank you；〃 he said； 〃I have to walk to Whitechapel。 I 'm
living on porridge now； splendid stuff for making bone。 I generally
live on porridge for a week at the end of every month。 It 's the
best diet if you're hard up〃； once more blushing and smiling； he was
gone。
Shelton went upstairs and sat down on his bed。 He felt a little
miserable。 Sitting there； slowly pulling out the ends of his white
tie； disconsolate； he had a vision of Antonia with her gaze fixed
wonderingly on him。 And this wonder of hers came as a revelation
just as that morning； when； looking from his window； he had seen a
passer…by stop suddenly and scratch his leg； and it had come upon him
in a flash that that man had thoughts and feelings of his own。 He
would never know what Antonia really felt and thought。 〃Till I saw
her at the station； I did n't know how much I loved