`Small！Isit？I’mgladtohearthat。Butit’sapityyoudidn’tkeepaway，then。Thisfighttakesitoutofhimfrightfully。Theman’sgettingexhausted。Ifeelitbythewayheleansonmyarmaswewalkover。And，Isay，ishesafeinthestreets？Mullinshasbeenmarchinghismenupherethisafternoon。There’saconstablestuckbyeverylamp—post，andeverysecondpersonwemeetbetweenthisandPalaceYardisanobvioustec。Itwillgetonhisnervespresently。Isay，theseforeignscoundrelsaren’tlikelytothrowsomethingathim—arethey？Itwouldbeanationalcalamity。Thecountrycan’tsparehim。’
`Nottomentionyourself。Heleansonyourarm，’suggestedtheAssistantCommissioner，soberly。`Youwouldbothgo。’
`Itwouldbeaneasywayforayoungmantogodownintohistory。NotsomanyBritishMinistershavebeenassassinatedastomakeitaminorincident。Butseriouslynow——’
`Iamafraidthatifyouwanttogodownintohistoryyou’llhavetodosomethingforit。Seriously，there’snodangerwhateverforbothofyoubutfromoverwork。’
ThesympatheticToodleswelcomedthisopeningforachuckle。
`TheFisherieswon’tkillme。Iamusedtolatehours，’hedeclared，withingenuouslevity。But，feelinganinstantcompunction，hebegantoassumeanairofstatesmanlikemoodiness，asonedrawsonaglove。`Hismassiveintellectwillstandanyamountofwork。It’shisnervesthatI
amafraidof。Thereactionarygang，withthatabusivebruteCheesemanattheirhead，insulthimeverynight。’
`Ifhewillinsistonbeginningarevolution！’murmuredtheAssistantCommissioner。
`Thetimehascome，andheistheonlymangreatenoughforthework，’
protestedtherevolutionaryToodles，flaringupunderthecalm，speculativegazeoftheAssistantCommissioner。Somewhereinacorridoradistantbelltinkledurgently，andwithdevotedvigilancetheyoungmanprickeduphisearsatthesound。`He’sreadytogonow，’heexclaimedinawhisper，snatcheduphishat，andvanishedfromtheroom。
TheAssistantCommissionerwentoutbyanotherdoorinalesselasticmanner。Againhecrossedthewidethoroughfare，walkedalonganarrowstreet，andre—enteredhastilyhisowndepartmentalbuildings。Hekeptupthisacceleratedpacetothedoorofhisprivateroom。Beforehehadcloseditfairlyhiseyessoughthisdesk。Hestoodstillforamoment，thenwalkedup，lookedallroundonthefloor，satdowninhischair，rangabell，andwaited。
`ChiefInspectorHeatgoneyet？’
`Yes，sir。Wentawayhalfanhourago。’
Henodded。`Thatwilldo。’Andsittingstill，withhishatpushedoffhisforehead，hethoughtthatitwasjustlikeHeat’sconfoundedcheektocarryoffquietlytheonlypieceofmaterialevidence。Buthethoughtthiswithoutanimosity。Oldandvaluedservantswilltakeliberties。Thepieceofovercoatwiththeaddresssewnonwascertainlynotathingtoleaveabout。DismissingfromhismindthismanifestationofChiefInspectorHeat’smistrust，hewroteanddispatchedanotetohiswife，charginghertomakehisapologiestoMichaelis’sgreatlady，withwhomtheywereengagedtodinethatevening。
Theshortjacketandthelow，roundhatheassumedinasortofcurtainedalcovecontainingawashstand，arowofwoodenpegsandashelf，broughtoutwonderfullythelengthofhisgrave，brownface。Hesteppedbackintothefulllightoftheroom，lookinglikethevisionofacool，reflectiveDonQuixote，withthesunkeneyesofadarkenthusiastandaverydeliberatemanner。Heleftthesceneofhisdailylaboursquicklylikeanunobtrusiveshadow。Hisdescentintothestreetwaslikethedescentintoaslimyaquariumfromwhichthewaterhadbeenrunoff。Amurky，gloomydampnessenvelopedhim。Thewallsofthehouseswerewet，themudoftheroadwayglistenedwithaneffectofphosphorescence，andwhenheemergedintotheStrandoutofanarrowstreetbythesideofCharingCrossStationthegeniusofthelocalityassimilatedhim。Hemighthavebeenbutonemoreofthequeerforeignfishthatcanbeseenofaneveningaboutthereflittingroundthedarkcorners。
Hecametoastandontheveryedgeofthepavement，andwaited。Hisexercisedeyeshadmadeoutintheconfusedmovementoflightsandshowsthrongingtheroadwaythecrawlingapproachofahansom。Hegavenosign;
butwhenthelowstepglidingalongthekerbstonecametohisfeethedodgedinskilfullyinfrontofthebigturningwheel，’andspokeupthroughthelittletrapdooralmostbeforethemangazingsupinelyaheadfromhisperchwasawareofhavingbeenboardedbyafare。
Itwasnotalongdrive。Itendedbysignalabruptly，nowhereinparticular，betweentwolamp—postsbeforealargedraperyestablishment—alongrangeofshopsalreadylappedupinsheetsofcorrugatedironforthenight。
Tenderingacointhroughthetrapdoorthefareslippedoutandaway，leavinganeffectofuncanny，eccentricghostlinessuponthedriver’smind。Butthesizeofthecoinwassatisfactorytohistouch，andhiseducationnotbeingliterary，heremaineduntroubledbythefearoffindingitpresentlyturnedtoadeadleafinhispocket。Raisedabovetheworldoffaresbythenatureofhiscalling，hecontemplatedtheiractionwithalimitedinterest。Thesharppullingofhishorserightroundexpressedhisphilosophy。
Meantime，theAssistantCommissionerwasalreadygivinghisordertoawaiterinalittleItalianrestaurantroundthecorner—oneofthosetrapsforthehungry，longandnarrow，baitedwithaperspectiveofmirrorsandwhitenapery;withoutair，butwithanatmosphereoftheirown—anatmosphereoffraudulentcookerymockinganabjectmankindinthemostpressingofitsmiserablenecessities。InthisimmoralatmospheretheAssistantCommissioner，reflectinguponhisenterprise，seemedtolosesomemoreofhisidentity。Hehadasenseofloneliness，ofevilfreedom。Itwasratherpleasant。When，afterpayingforhisshortmeal，hestoodupandwaitedforhischange，hesawhimselfinthesheetofglass，andwasstruckbyhisforeignappearance。HecontemplatedhisownimagewithamelancholyandInquisitivegaze，thenbysuddeninspirationraisedthecollarofhisjacket。Thisarrangementappearedtohimcommendable，andhecompleteditbygivinganupwardtwisttotheendsofhisblackmoustache。Hewassatisfiedbythesubtlemodificationofhispersonalaspectcausedbythesesmallchanges。`That’lldoverywell，’hethought。`I’llgetalittlewet，alittlesplashed——’
Hebecameawareofthewaiterathiselbowandofasmallpileofsilvercoinsontheedgeofthetablebeforehim。Thewaiterkeptoneeyeonit，whilehisothereyefollowedthelongbackofatall，notveryyounggirl，whopasseduptoadistanttablelookingperfectlysightlessandaltogetherunapproachable。Sheseemedtobeanhabitualcustomer。
OngoingouttheAssistantCommissionermadetohimselftheobservationthatthepatronsoftheplacehadlostinthefrequentationoffraudulentcookeryalltheirnationalandprivatecharacteristics。Andthiswasstrange，sincetheItalianrestaurantissuchapeculiarlyBritishinstitution。
Butthesepeoplewereasdenationalizedasthedishessetbeforethemwitheverycircumstanceofunstampedrespectability。Neitherwastheirpersonalitystampedinanyway，professionally，sociallyorracially。TheyseemedcreatedfortheItalianrestaurant，unlesstheItalianrestauranthadbeenperchancecreatedforthem。Butthatlasthypothesiswasunthinkable，sinceonecouldnotplacethemanywhereoutsidethosespecialestablishments。Onenevermettheseenigmaticalpersonselsewhere。Itwasimpossibletoformapreciseideawhatoccupationstheyfollowedbydayandwheretheywenttobedatnight。Andhehimselfhadbecomeunplaced。Itwouldhavebeenimpossibleforanybodytoguesshisoccupation。Astogoingtobed，therewasadoubteveninhisownmind。Notindeedinregardtohisdomicileitself，butverymuchsoinrespectofthetimewhenhewouldbeabletoreturnthere。
Apleasurablefeelingofindependencepossessedhimwhenheheardtheglassdoorsswingtobehindhisbackwithasortofimperfectbaffledthud。HeadvancedatonceintoanimmensityofgreasyslimeanddampplasterInterspersedwithlamps，andenveloped，oppressed，penetrated，choked，andsuffocatedbytheblacknessofawetLondonnight，whichiscomposedofsootanddropsofwater。
BrettStreetwasnotveryfaraway。Itbranchesoff，narrow，fromthesideofanopentriangularspacesurroundedbydarkandmysterioushouses，templesofpettycommerceemptiedoftradersforthenight。Onlyafruiterer’sstallatthecornermadeaviolentblazeoflightandcolour。Beyondallwasblack，andthefewpeoplepassinginthatdirectionvanishedatonestridebeyondtheglowingheapsoforangesandlemons。Nofootstepsechoed。
Theywouldneverbeheardofagain。TheadventurousheadoftheSpecialCrimesDepartmentwatchedthesedisappearancesfromadistancewithaninterestedeye。Hefeltlight—hearted，asthoughhehadbeenambushedallaloneinajunglemanythousandsofmilesawayfromdepartmentaldesksandofficialinkstands。Thisjoyousnessanddispersionofthoughtbeforeataskofsomeimportanceseemstoprovethatthisworldofoursisnotsuchaveryseriousaffairafterall。FortheAssistantCommissionerwasnotconstitutionallyinclinedtolevity。
Thepolicemanonthebeatprojectedhissombreandmovingformagainsttheluminousgloryoforangesandlemons，andenteredBrettStreetwithouthaste。TheAssistantCommissioner，asthoughhewereamemberofthecriminalclasses，lingeredoutofsight，awaitinghisreturn。Butthisconstableseemedtobelostforevertotheforce。Heneverreturned:musthavegoneoutattheotherendofBrettStreet。
TheAssistantCommissioner，reachingthisconclusion，enteredthestreetinhisturn，andcameuponalargevanarrestedinfrontofthedimlylitwindow—panesofacarter’seating—house。Themanwasrefreshinghimselfinside，andthehorses，theirbigheadsloweredtotheground，fedoutofnose—bagssteadily。Fartheron，ontheoppositesideofthestreet，anothersuspectpatchofdimlightissuedfromMrVerloc’sshopfront，hungwithpapers，heavingwithvaguepilesofcardboardboxesandtheshapesofbooks。TheAssistantCommissionerstoodobservingitacrosstheroadway。
Therecouldbenomistake。Bythesideofthefrontwindow，encumberedbytheshadowsofnondescriptthings，thedoor，standingajar，letescapeonthepavementanarrow，clearstreakofgaslightwithin。
BehindtheAssistantCommissionerthevanandhorses，mergedintoonemass，seemedsomethingalive—asquare—backedblackmonsterblockinghalfthestreet，withsuddeniron—shodstampings，fiercejingles，andheavy，blowingsighs。Theharshlyfestive，ill—omenedglareofalargeandprosperouspublic—housefacedtheotherendofBrettStreetacrossawideroad。Thisbarrierofblazinglights，opposingtheshadowsgatheredaboutthehumbleabodeofMrVerloc’sdomestichappiness，seemedtodrivetheobscurityofthestreetbackuponitself，makeitmoresullen，brooding，andsinister。
CONRAD:TheSecretAgent，Chapter8CHAPTER8
Havinginfusedbypersistentimportunitiessomesortofheatintothechillyinterestofseverallicensedvictuallers（theacquaintancesonceuponatimeofherlateunluckyhusband），MrsVerloc’smotherhadatlastsecuredheradmissiontocertainalmshousesfoundedbyawealthyinnkeeperforthedestitutewidowsofthetrade。
Thisend，conceivedintheastutenessofheruneasyheart，theoldwomanhadpursuedwithsecrecyanddetermination。ThatwasthetimewhenherdaughterWinniecouldnothelppassingaremarktoMrVerlocthatmotherhasbeenspendinghalf—crownsandfiveshillingsalmosteverydaythislastweekincabfares’。Buttheremarkwasnotmadegrudgingly。Winnierespectedhermother’sinfirmities。Shewasonlyalittlesurprisedatthissuddenmaniaforlocomotion。MrVerloc，whowassufficientlymagnificentinhisway，hadgruntedtheremarkimpatientlyasideasinterferingwithhismeditations。Thesewerefrequent，deep，andprolonged;theyboreuponamattermoreimportantthanfiveshillings。Distinctlymoreimportant，andbeyondallcomparisonmoredifficulttoconsiderinallitsaspectswithphilosophicalserenity。Herobjectattainedinastutesecrecy，theheroicoldwomanhadmadeacleanbreastofittoMrsVerloc。Hersoulwastriumphantandherhearttremulous。Inwardly，shequaked，becauseshedreadedandadmiredthecalm，self—containedcharacterofherdaughterWinnie，whosedispleasurewasmaderedoubtablebyadiversityofdreadfulsilences。Butshedidnotallowherinwardapprehensionstorobheroftheadvantageofvenerableplacidityconferreduponheroutwardpersonbyhertriplechin，thefloatingamplenessofherancientform，andtheimpotentconditionofherlegs。
TheshockoftheinformationwassounexpectedthatMrsVerloc，againstherusualpracticewhenaddressed，interruptedthedomesticoccupationshewasengagedupon。Itwasthedustingofthefurnitureintheparlourbehindtheshop。Sheturnedherheadtowardshermother。
`Whateverdidyouwanttodothatfor？’sheexclaimed，inscandalizedastonishment。
Theshockmusthavebeenseveretomakeherdepartfromthatdistantanduninquiringacceptanceoffactswhichwasherforceandhersafeguardinlife。
`Weren’tyoumadecomfortableenoughhere？’
Shehadlapsedintotheseinquiries，butnextmomentshesavedtheconsistencyofherconductbyresumingherdusting，whiletheoldwomansatscaredanddumbunderherdingywhitecapandlustrelessdarkwig。
Winniefinishedthechair，andranthedusteralongthemahoganyatthebackofthehorsehairsofaonwhichMrVerloclovedtotakehiseaseinhatandovercoat。Shewasintentonherwork，butpresentlyshepermittedherselfanotherquestion。
`Howintheworlddidyoumanageit，mother？’
Asnotaffectingtheinwardnessofthings，whichitwasMrsVerloc’sprincipletoignore，thiscuriositywasexcusable。Itboremerelyonthemethods。Theoldwomanwelcomediteagerlyasbringingforwardsomethingthatcouldbetalkedaboutwithmuchsincerity。
Shefavouredherdaughterbyanexhaustiveanswerfullofnamesandenrichedbyside—commentsupontheravagesoftimeasobservedinthealterationofhumancountenances。Thenameswereprincipallythenamesoflicensedvictuallers—`poordaddy’sfriends，mydear’。Sheenlargedwithspecialappreciationonthekindnessandcondescensionofalargebrewer，aBaronetandanM。P。，theChairmanoftheGovernorsoftheCharity。SheexpressedherselfthuswarmlybecauseshehadbeenallowedtointerviewbyappointmenthisPrivateSecretary—`averypolitegentleman，allinblack，withagentle，sadvoice，butsovery，verythinandquiet。Hewaslikeashadow，mydear。’
Winnie，prolongingherdustingoperationstillthetalewastoldtotheend，walkedoutoftheparlourintothekitchen（downtwosteps）inherusualmanner，withouttheslightestcomment。
Sheddingafewtearsinsignofrejoicingatherdaughter’smansuetudeinthisterribleaffair，MrsVerloc’smothergaveplaytoherastutenessinthedirectionofherfurniture，becauseitwasherown;andsometimesshewishedithadn’tbeen。Heroismisallverywell，buttherearecircumstanceswhenthedisposalofafewtablesandchairs，brassbedsteads，andsoon，maybebigwithremoteanddisastrousconsequences。Sherequiredafewpiecesherself，theFoundationwhich，aftermanyimportunities，hadgatheredhertoitscharitablebreast，givingnothingbutbareplanksandcheaplypaperedbrickstotheobjectsofitssolicitude。Thedelicacyguidingherchoicetotheleastvaluableandmostdilapidatedarticlespassedunacknowledged，becauseWinnie’sphilosophyconsistedinnottakingnoticeoftheinsideoffacts;sheassumedthatmothertookwhatsuitedherbest。AstoMrVerloc，hisintensemeditation，likeasortofChinesewall，isolatedhimcompletelyfromthephenomenaofthisworldofvaineffortandillusoryappearances。
Herselectionmade，thedisposaloftherestbecameaperplexingquestioninaparticularway。ShewasleavingitinBrettStreet，ofcourse。Butshehadtwochildren。Winniewasprovidedforbyhersensibleunionwiththatexcellenthusband，MrVerloc。Steviewasdestitute—andalittlepeculiar。Hispositionhadtobeconsideredbeforetheclaimsoflegaljusticeandeventhepromptingsofpartiality。Thepossessionofthefurniturewouldnotbeinanysenseaprovision。Heoughttohaveit—thepoorboy。
Buttogiveiftohimwouldbeliketamperingwithhispositionofcompletedependence。Itwasasortofclaimwhichshefearedtoweaken。Moreover，thesusceptibilitiesofMrVerlocwouldperhapsnotbrookbeingbeholdentohisbrother—in—lawforthechairshesaton。Inalongexperienceofgentlemenlodgers，MrsVerloc’smotherhadacquiredadismalbutresignednotionofthefantasticsideofhumannature。WhatifMrVerlocsuddenlytookitintohisheadtotellStevietotakehisblessedstickssomewhereoutofthat？Adivision，ontheotherhand，howevercarefullymade，mightgivesomecauseofoffencetoWinnie。No。Steviemustremaindestituteanddependent。AndatthemomentofleavingBrettStreetshehadsaidtoherdaughter:`NousewaitingtillIamdead，isthere？EverythingIleavehereisaltogetheryourownnow，mydear。’
Winnie，withherhaton，silentbehindhermother’sback，wentonarrangingthecollaroftheoldwoman’scloak。Shegotherhandbag，anumbrella，withanimpassiveface。Thetimehadcomefortheexpenditureofthesumofthreeandsixpenceonwhatmightwellbesupposedthelastcab—driveofMrsVerloc’smother’slife。Theywentoutattheshopdoor。
Theconveyanceawaitingthemwouldhaveillustratedtheproverbthat`truthcanbemorecruelthancaricature’，ifsuchaproverbexisted。Crawlingbehindaninfirmhorse，ametropolitanhackneydrewuponwobblywheelsandwithamaimeddriveronthebox。Thislastpeculiaritycausedsomeembarrassment。Catchingsightofahookedironcontrivanceprotrudingfromtheleftsleeveoftheman’scoat，MrsVerloc’smotherlostsuddenlytheheroiccourageofthesedays。Shereallycouldn’ttrustherself。`Whatdoyouthink，Winnie？’Shehungback。Thepassionateexpostulationsofthebig—facedcabmanseemedtobesqueezedoutofablockedthroat。Leaningoverfromhisbox，hewhisperedwithmysteriousindignation。Whatwasthematternow？Wasitpossibletotreatamanso？Hisenormousandunwashedcountenanceflamedredinthemuddystretchofthestreet。Wasitlikelytheywouldhavegivenhimalicence，heinquireddesperately，if——
Thepoliceconstableofthelocalityquietedhimbyafriendlyglance;
thenaddressinghimselftothetwowomenwithoutmarkedconsideration，said:`He’sbeendrivingacabfortwentyyears。Ineverknewhimtohaveanaccident。’
`Accident！’shoutedthedriverinascornfulwhisper。
Thepoliceman’stestimonysettledit。Themodestassemblageofsevenpeople，mostlyunderage，dispersed。Winniefollowedhermotherintothecab。Stevieclimbedonthebox。Hisvacantmouthanddistressedeyesdepictedthestateofhismindinregardtothetransactionswhichweretakingplace。
Inthenarrowstreetstheprogressofthejourneywasmadesensibletothosewithinbythenearfrontsofthehousesglidingpastslowlyandshakily，withagreatrattleandjinglingofglass，asifabouttocollapsebehindthecab;andtheinfirmhorse，withtheharnesshungoverhissharpbackboneflappingverylooseabouthisthighs，appearingtobedancingmincinglyonhistoeswithinfinitepatience。Lateron，inthewiderspaceofWhitehall，allvisualevidencesofmotionbecameimperceptible。TherattleandjingleofglasswentonindefinitelyinfrontofthelongTreasurybuilding—
andtimeitselfseemedtostandstill。
AtlastWinnieobserved:`Thisisn’taverygoodhorse。’
Hereyesgleamedintheshadowofthecabstraightahead，immovable。
Onthebox，Stevieshuthisvacantmouthfirst，inordertoejaculateearnestly:
`Don’t。’
Thedriver，holdinghighthereinstwistedaroundthehook，tooknonotice。Perhapshehadnotheard。Stevie’sbreastheaved。
`Don’twhip。’
Themanturnedslowlyhisbloatedandsoddenfaceofmanycoloursbristlingwithwhitehairs。Hislittleredeyesglistenedwithmoisture。Hisbiglipshadaviolettint。Theyremainedclosed。Withthedirtybackofhiswhip—handherubbedthestubblesproutingonhisenormouschin。
`Youmustn’t，’stammeredoutStevie，violently，`ithurts。’
`Mustn’twhip，’queriedtheotherinathoughtfulwhisper，andimmediatelywhipped。Hedidthis，notbecausehissoulwascruelandhisheartevil，butbecausehehadtoearnhisfare。AndforatimethewallsofStStephen’s，withitstowersandpinnacles，contemplatedinimmobilityandsilenceacabthatjingled。Itrolled，too，however。Butonthebridgetherewasacommotion。Steviesuddenlyproceededtogetdownfromthebox。Therewereshoutsonthepavement，peopleranforward，thedriverpulledup，whisperingcursesofindignationandastonishment。Winnieloweredthewindow，andputherheadout，whiteasaghost。Inthedepthsofthecab，hermotherwasexclaiming，intonesofanguish:`Isthatboyhurt？Isthatboyhurt？’
Steviewasnothurt，hehadnotevenfallen，butexcitementasusualhadrobbedhimofthepowerofconnectedspeech。Hecoulddonomorethanstammeratthewindow:`Tooheavy。Tooheavy。’Winnieputoutherhandontohisshoulder。
`Stevie！Getupontheboxdirectly，anddon’ttrytogetdownagain。’
`No。No。Walk。Mustwalk。’
Intryingtostatethenatureofthatnecessityhestammeredhimselfintoutterincoherence。Nophysicalimpossibilitystoodinthewayofhiswhim。Steviecouldhavemanagedeasilytokeeppacewiththeinfirm，dancinghorsewithoutgettingoutofbreath。Buthissisterwithheldherconsentdecisively。`Theidea！Whoeverheardofsuchathing！Runafteracab！’
Hermother，frightenedandhelplessinthedepthoftheconveyance，entreated:
`Oh，don’tlethim，Winnie。He’llgetlost。Don’tlethim。’
`Certainlynot。Whatnext！MrVerlocwillbesorrytohearofthisnonsense，Stevie—Icantellyou。Hewon’tbehappyatall。’
TheideaofMrVerloc’sgriefandunhappinessactingasusualpowerfullyuponStevie’sfundamentallydociledisposition，heabandonedallresistanceandclimbedupagainonthebox，withafaceofdespair。
Thecabbyturnedathimhisenormousandinflamedcountenancetruculently。
`Don’tyougofortryingthissillygameagain，youngfellow。’
Afterdeliveringhimselfthusinasternwhisper，strainedalmosttoextinction，hedroveon，ruminatingsolemnly。Tohismindtheincidentremainedsomewhatobscure。Buthisintellect，thoughithadlostitspristinevivacityinthebenumbingyearsofsedentaryexposuretotheweather，lackednotindependenceorsanity。GravelyhedismissedthehypothesisofSteviebeingadrunkenyoungnipper。
Insidethecabthespellofsilence，inwhichthetwowomenhadenduredshouldertoshoulderthejolting，rattling，andjinglingofthejourney，hadbeenbrokenbyStevie’soutbreak。Winnieraisedhervoice。
`You’vedonewhatyouwanted，mother。Youhaveonlyyourselftothankforitifyouaren’thappyafterwards。AndIdon’tthinkyou’llbe。ThatIdon’t。Weren’tyoucomfortableenoughinthehouse？Whateverpeople’llthinkofus—youthrowingyourselflikethisonaCharity？’
`Mydear，’screamedtheoldwomanearnestlyabovethenoise，`you’vebeenthebestofdaughterstome。AstoMrVerloc—there——
WordsfailingheronthesubjectofMrVerloc’sexcellence，sheturnedheroldtearfuleyestotheroofofthecab。Thensheavertedherheadonthepretenceoflookingoutofthewindow，asiftojudgeoftheirprogress。
Itwasinsignificant，andwentonclosetothekerbstone。Night，theearlydirtynight，thesinister，noisy，hopeless，androwdynightofSouthLondon，hadovertakenheronherlastcabdrive。Inthegas—lightofthelow—frontedshopsherbigcheeksglowedwithanorangehueunderablackandmauvebonnet。
MrsVerloc’smother’scomplexionhadbecomeyellowbytheeffectofageandfromanaturalpredispositiontobiliousness，favouredbythetrialsofadifficultandworriedexistence，firstaswife，thenaswidow。Itwasacomplexionthatundertheinfluenceofablushwouldtakeonanorangetint。Andthiswoman，modestindeedbuthardenedinthefiresofadversity，ofanage，moreover，whenblushesarenotexpected，hadpositivelyblushedbeforeherdaughter。Intheprivacyofafour—wheeler，onherwaytoacharitycottage（oneofarow）whichbytheexiguityofitsdimensionsandthesimplicityofitsaccommodation，mightwellhavebeendevisedinkindnessasaplaceoftrainingforthestillmorestraitenedcircumstancesofthegrave，shewasforcedtohidefromherownchildablushofremorseandshame。
Whateverpeoplewillthink？Sheknewverywellwhattheydidthink，thepeopleWinniehadinhermind—theoldfriendsofherhusband，andotherstoo，whoseinterestshehadsolicitedwithsuchflatteringsuccess。
Shehadnotknownbeforewhatagoodbeggarshecouldbe。Butsheguessedverywellwhatinferencewasdrawnfromherapplication。Onaccountofthatshrinkingdelicacy，whichexistssidebysidewithaggressivebrutalityinmasculinenature，theinquiriesintohercircumstanceshadnotbeenpushedveryfar。Shehadcheckedthembyavisiblecompressionofthelipsandsomedisplayofanemotiondeterminedtobeeloquentlysilent。Andthemenwouldbecomesuddenlyincurious，afterthemanneroftheirkind。
Shecongratulatedherselfmorethanonceonhavingnothingtodowithwomen，whobeingnaturallymorecallousandavidofdetails，wouldhavebeenanxioustobeexactlyinformedbywhatsortofunkindconductherdaughterandson—in—lawhaddrivenhertothatsadextremity。ItwasonlybeforetheSecretaryofthegreatbrewerM。P。andChairmanoftheCharity，who，actingforhisprincipal，feltboundtobeconscientiouslyinquisitiveastotherealcircumstancesoftheapplicant，thatshehadburstintotearsoutrightandaloud，asacorneredwomanwillweep。Thethinandpolitegentleman，aftercontemplatingherwithanairofbeing`struckallofaheap’，abandonedhispositionunderthecoverofsoothingremarks。Shemustnotdistressherself。ThedeedoftheCharitydidnotabsolutelyspecify`childlesswidows’。Infact，itdidnotbyanymeansdisqualifyher。ButthediscretionoftheCommitteemustbeaninformeddiscretion。Onecouldunderstandverywellherunwillingnesstobeaburden，etc。，etc。Thereupon，tohisprofounddisappointment，MrsVerloc’smotherweptsomemorewithanaugmentedvehemence。
Thetearsofthatlargefemaleinadark，dustywig，andancientsilkdressfestoonedwithdingywhitecottonlace，werethetearsofgenuinedistress。Shehadweptbecauseshewasheroicandunscrupulousandfullofloveforbothherchildren。Girlsfrequentlygetsacrificedtothewelfareoftheboys。InthiscaseshewassacrificingWinnie。Bythesuppressionoftruthshewasslanderingher。Ofcourse，Winniewasindependent，andneednotcarefortheopinionofpeoplethatshewouldneverseeandwhowouldneverseeher;whereaspoorSteviehadnothingintheworldhecouldcallhisownexcepthismother’sheroismandunscrupulousness。
ThefirstsenseofsecurityfollowingonWinnie’smarriageworeoffintime（fornothinglasts），andMrsVerloc’smother，intheseclusionofthebackbedroom，hadrecalledtheteachingofthatexperiencewhichtheworldimpressesuponawidowedwoman。Butshehadrecalleditwithoutvainbitterness;herstoreofresignationamountedalmosttodignity。Shereflectedstoicallythateverythingdecays，wearsout，inthisworld;chatthewayofkindnessshouldbemadeeasytothewelldisposed;thatherdaughterWinniewasamostdevotedsister，andaveryself—confidentwifeindeed。AsregardsWinnie’ssisterlydevotion，herstoicismflinched。Sheexceptedthatsentimentfromtheruleofdecayaffectingallthingshumanandsomethingsdivine。Shecouldnothelpit;nottodosowouldhavefrightenedhertoomuch。Butinconsideringtheconditionsofherdaughter’smarriedstate，sherejectedfirmlyallflatteringillusions。ShetookthecoldandreasonableviewthatthelessstrainputonMrVerloc’skindnessthelongeritseffectswerelikely’tolast。Thatexcellentmanlovedhiswife，ofcourse，buthewould，nodoubt，prefertokeepasfewofherrelationsaswasconsistentwiththeproperdisplayofthatsentiment。ItwouldbebetterifitswholeeffectwereconcentratedonpoorStevie。Andtheheroicoldwomanresolvedongoingawayfromherchildrenasanactofdevotionandasamoveofdeeppolicy。
The`virtue’ofthispolicyconsistedinthis（MrsVerloc’smotherwassubtleinherway），thatStevie’smoralclaimwouldbestrengthened。Thepoorboy—agood，usefulboy，ifalittlepeculiar—hadnotasufficientstanding。Hehadbeentakenoverwithhismother，somewhatinthesamewayasthefurnitureoftheBelgravianmansionhadbeentakenover，asifonthegroundofbelongingtoherexclusively。Whatwillhappen，sheaskedherself（forMrsVerloc’smotherwasinameasureimaginative），whenIdie？Andwhensheaskedherselfthatquestionitwaswithdread。Itwasalsoterribletothinkthatshewouldnotthenhavethemeansofknowingwhathappenedtothepoorboy。Butbymakinghimovertohissister，bygoingthusaway，shegavehimtheadvantageofadirectlydependentposition。
