Edgar Jepson

“ Borrodaile firmly.
"If I was a man I wouldn't be frightened," said the Lady Noggs with ineffable contempt. "But if you're not a politician yourself, you can make them do things all the same. You can make uncle. Will you make them see after these poor children? I tell you some of them that get knocked about and starved are quite babies."
"No, I'm afraid I can't make them," said Mr. Borrodaile slowly. "At present they have their hands full with protecting people,—bishops, publicans, speculators, to say nothing of manufactures and industries. Hundreds of people and hundreds of things." ”

“ Bishops belong to the House of Lords, and publicans send members to both houses. The poor children do not send members to either house; so there is no one whose business it is exactly to speak for them; and so it is hard to do things for them."
"It's a beastly shame!" said the Lady Noggs.
"But, all the same, there are laws to prevent their being ill-treated; and what's more, there is a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, just as there is a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," said Mr. Borrodaile.
"Sue never heard of them," said the Lady Noggs, shaking her head. ”

“ She stopped before him and said, with a very serious air, "I've been talking to Sue."
"Who is Sue?" said Mr. Borrodaile warily.
"She's one of those little girls from London staying in the village."
"Does she belong to Poplar?" said Mr. Borrodaile with a sudden air of enlightenment.
The Lady Noggs ignored the question, and said gravely: "She's been telling me dreadful things—about poor children. She says they're always being knocked about, and always hungry. And they haven't any warm clothes in winter; and they're cold even in bed because they haven't blankets, only sacks. ”