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never were there stupider young people in the whole region of rank
than those to whom duty and necessity sent me on the Wednesday
mornings of that London seasoneven with some enjoyment。 For the
lessons Falconer had been giving me clung to me and grew on me until
I said thus to myself： 'Am I to believe only for the poor； and not
for the rich？ Am I not to bear with conceit even； hard as it is to
teach？ for is not this conceit itself the measure as the consequence
of incapacity and ignorance？ They cannot help being born stupid；
any more than some of those children in St。 Giles's can help being
born preternaturally； unhealthily clever。 I am going with my friend
this evening： that hope is enough to make me strong for one day at
least。' So I set myself to my task； and that morning wiled the
first gleam of intelligent delight out of the eyes of one poor
little washed…out ladyship。 I could have kissed her from positive
thankfulness。
The day did wear over。 The evening did come。 I was with my
friendfor friend I could call him none the less and all the more
that I worshipped him。
'I have business in Westminster；' he said； 'and then on the other
side of the water。'
'I am more and more astonished at your knowledge of London； Mr。
Falconer；' I said。 'You must have a great faculty for places。'
'I think rather the contrary；' he answered。 'But there is no end to
the growth of a faculty； if one only uses itespecially when his
whole nature is interested in its efficiency； and makes demands upon
it。 The will applies to the intellect； the intellect communicates
its necessities to the brain； the brain bestirs itself； and grows
more active； the eyes lend their aid； the memory tries not to be
behind； and at length you have a man gifted in localities。'
'How is it that people generally can live in such quiet ignorance of
the regions that surround them； and the kind of humanity so near
them？' I said after a pause。
'It does seem strange。 It is as if a man should not know who were
in his own house。 Would…be civilization has for the very centre of
its citadel； for the citizens of its innermost city； for the heart
around which the gay and fashionable； the learned； the artistic； the
virtuous； the religious are gathered； a people some of whom are
barbarous； some cruel； many miserable； many unhappy； save for brief
moments not of hope； but of defiance； distilled in the alembic of
the brain from gin： what better life could steam up from such a
Phlegethon！ Look there： 〃Cream of the Valley！〃 As if the mocking
serpent must with sweet words of Paradise deepen the horrors of the
hellish compound； to which so many of our brothers and sisters made
in the image of God； fly as to their only Saviour from the misery of
feeling alive。'
'How is it that the civilized people of London do not make a
simultaneous inroad upon the haunts of the demons and drive them
out？'
'It is a mercy they do not。 They would only do infinite mischief。
The best notion civilization seems to have isnot to drive out the
demons； but to drive out the possessed； to take from them the poor
refuges they have； and crowd them into deeper and more fetid
hellsto make room for what？more and more temples in which Mammon
may be worshipped。 The good people on the other hand invade them
with foolish tracts； that lie against God； or give their money to
build churches； where there is as yet no people that will go to
them。 Why； the other day； a young clergyman bored me； and would
have been boring me till now； I think； if I would have let him； to
part with a block of my houses； where I know every man； woman； and
child； and keep them in comparative comfort and cleanliness and
decency； to say no more； that he might pull them down and build a
church upon the sitenot quite five minutes' walk from the church
where he now officiates。'
It was a blowing； moon…lit night。 The gaslights flickered and
wavered in the gusts of wind。 It was cold； very cold for the
season。 Even Falconer buttoned his coat over his chest。 He got a
few paces in advance of me sometimes； when I saw him towering black
and tall and somewhat gaunt； like a walking shadow。 The wind
increased in violence。 It was a north…easter； laden with dust； and
a sense of frozen Siberian steppes。 We had to stoop and head it at
the corners of streets。 Not many people were out； and those who
were； seemed to be hurrying home。 A few little provision…shops； and
a few inferior butchers' stalls were still open。 Their great jets
of gas； which looked as if they must poison the meat； were flaming
fierce and horizontal； roaring like fiery flags； and anon dying into
a blue hiss。 Discordant singing； more like the howling of wild
beasts； came from the corner houses； which blazed like the gates of
hell。 Their doors were ever on the swing； and the hot odours of
death rushed out； and the cold blast of life rushed in。 We paused a
little before one of themover the door； upon the sign； was in very
deed the name Death。 There were ragged women within who took their
half…dead babies from their bare； cold； cheerless bosoms； and gave
them of the poison of which they themselves drank renewed despair in
the name of comfort。 They say that most of the gin consumed in
London is drunk by women。 And the little clay…coloured baby…faces
made a grimace or two； and sank to sleep on the thin tawny breasts
of the mothers； who having gathered courage from the essence of
despair； faced the scowling night once more； and with bare necks and
hopeless hearts wentwhither？ Where do they all go when the
gin…hells close their yawning jaws？ Where do they lie down at
night？ They vanish like unlawfully risen corpses in the graves of
cellars and garrets； in the charnel…vaults of pestiferously…crowded
lodging…houses； in the prisons of police…stations； under dry arches；
within hoardings； or they make vain attempts to rest the night out
upon door…steps or curbstones。 All their life long man denies them
the one right in the soil which yet is so much theirs； that once
that life is over； he can no longer deny itthe right of room to
lie down。 Space itself is not allowed to be theirs by any right of
existence： the voice of the night…guardian commanding them to move
on； is as the howling of a death…hound hunting them out of the air
into their graves。
In St。 James's we came upon a group around the gates of a great
house。 Visitors were coming and going； and it was a show to be had
for nothing by those who had nothing to pay。 Oh！ the children with
clothes too ragged to hold pockets for their chilled hands； that
stared at the childless duchess descending from her lordly carriage！
Oh！ the wan faces； once lovely as theirs； it may be； that gazed
meagre and pinched and hungry on the young maidens in rose…colour
and blue； tripping lightly through the avenue of their eager
eyesnot yet too envious of unattainable felicity to gaze with
admiring