Edgar Jepson

“ The ghost girl took the sleeping Stepniak from the sleeping Cherlie. I covered the sleeping children with a rug, and drew another round ourselves. We sat quiet for a while, and I could see her eyes shining. Then she began to talk about the anarchists again, and the children like them—how she wished that she could take a hundred of them into the country every day, and feed them. Her voice grew angry and thrilling as she talked of what a shame it was that they should live, half fed and half clothed, in the pigsties they called homes. ”

“ They came, and were interested in the boiling of the kettle and the making of the tea; but all the while they kept looking at the hamper as if they couldn't keep their eyes off it. When the five minutes were up, their eyes still glistened at the food, but they ate it more slowly. They did enjoy it. But it was only toward the end of the meal that Cherlie remembered their manners and reminded them sternly. When Stepniak was full, he went to sleep; and when the other anarchists were full, they lay on their sides, looking drowsy and very happy, talking in jerks about the chicken and the cakes. ”

“ I carried the sleeping Stepniak to the car, for the ghost girl and Cherlie had about run their legs off. At the car, the anarchists lingered a little, as if they could not drag themselves away from the common. ”

“ We all tried, in an excited way, to get Stepniak to see the squirrel; I grew as keen on making him see it as Cherlie and Miss Amber. They were sure he saw it; I was not; and we argued about it almost in a heated way. Stepniak seemed awfully solemn for his age, and I did not believe that he was really keen on seeing a squirrel. Miss Amber said that I underrated his intelligence.
The squirrel took us to a tree where he found two other squirrels, and they played about in it. The anarchists were a long time getting tired of watching them ”

“ I fancy that I was looking what I thought of her.
“Cherlie, give Steppie to me. You must want to run about with the others,” she said.
She gave Steppie a finger, and I gave him another, and he toddled along between us like a kind of link.
“How did you meet these anarchists?” I asked.
“I found them in the park one afternoon, and then they came several times to see me, and by degrees I've got to know them quite well. They are such nice children.” ”

“ I don't mind!” I said quickly. “Anarchists—I rather like 'em. In fact, I'm a bit of an anarchist myself. I never could stick the House of Lords—never—I give you my word. I tell you what—I'll be a fullblown anarchist myself all the afternoon.”
I said it straight off without a break, for the children had got to go.
“Strite?” asked the boy.
“Straight,” declared I.
“If it's like that, thank yer, gov'ner,” said the boy with a grunt of thankfulness. And he grinned all over his face as he held Cherlie's arm while she got into the car.
I held open the door for Miss Amber. ”

“ Cherlie bent down to the baby in her lap, and cooed:
“In a moter car, Steppie—ridin' in a moter car!”
“So you're anarchists, are you?” I asked, to set them going.
All their faces turned to me, and Robbie responded promptly:
“Yes, we're anarchists, an' so's father. My name's Robespierre Briggs—after 'im what myde the French Revolution. An' Cherlie's name is Charlotte Corday Briggs; an' Verie's is Vera Sassiliwitch Briggs—after “er wot threw bombs at the czar. An' Steppie—he's Stepniak Briggs. He threw bombs, too, did Stepniak.”
“I'm goin' to throw bombs when I grow up,” announced Verie. ”

“ I exclaimed to Miss Amber.
She was looking at them with pitiful eyes.
“I think it's rather dreadful,” she said.
“But if you throw bombs, you'll go to prison!” I said to the children.
“Yes; but then we'll be martyrs of the revolution, an' that's a glorious thing to be,” declared Robbie.
“P'r'aps we'll be 'anged,” put in Verie cheerfully.
“An' if you're 'anged, you're hever so much more a martyr of the revolution. Everybody says so,” said Robbie.
“I'm goin' ter throw bombs at ministers,” said Verie. ”

“ I was bent on finding the best kitchen range in England before I interviewed a contractor about putting them in.
At Hyde Park corner we were held up by the traffic going into the park. When we started again, Gaston, my chauffeur, asked me to stop. His acute ear had caught something wrong with the sound of the engine. I pulled up just in front of St. George's Hospital; he got out and raised the bonnet of the car.
My mind was full of kitchen ranges, and I was paying no particular attention to anything outside me. Then I saw the pretty girl and the children. ”

“ Then I dropped my eyeglass, shut my mouth, and explained to them that I was not going to pay fifty per cent too much for things. In the jar of the surprise, I got better terms than I should have done if I had not started with the eyeglass. ”

“ Only it was plain that that was what the government was there for—we were both sure of that—and I began to think seriously about going down to the House of Lords and looking into the matter. I might put the fat in the fire, and get a little quiet fun out of doing it.
Then Robbie came running up, very eager.
“Will you come and plye anarchists wiv us, Miss Amber?” he begged. “There ain't no one to throw bombs at!” ”

“ Verie stopped howling. Cherlie's eyes opened wide, and so did her mouth; and I never saw such thankfulness in any one's face before.
“Oh, Steppie, the real country! Steppie in the real country—where the cows are!” she said, in a whispering voice.
“In you get,” I ordered cheerfully, and the two girls stepped quickly toward the car
“'Ere, old on! Wyte a bit!” cried the boy. “She don't mind, Miss Amber don't; but this gov'ner won't want to tyke the likes of us.” Then, turning to me, he added sternly: “We're anarchists, we are ”

“ Then he said:
“Miss Amber's lost 'er purse with 'alf a suvrin in it. She was tyking hus to Kew Gardings for a treat—an' now she can't.”
The elder girl took her face, wet with tears, out of the baby's frock, and said, in a heartbroken voice:
“It's Steppie! Steppie's never bin furder out of London than Kensington Gardings; an' 'e was looking forward to it so.” I gathered that Steppie was the baby “An' Verie was lookin' forward to it, too. But she's bin to Kew Gardings once—when she was older nor Steppie. She remembers them, though.” ”