W. Pett Ridge

“ Doubleday took down his elderly silk hat and made elaborate pretence of smoothing the nap, “getting uncommonly well paid for it, too. Pretty situation, isn't it?”
“There's a very good answer to the charge you bring against me,” said Erb, trying to keep his temper, “but there's no earthly reason why I should give it. I'm not responsible to you; I am responsible to my Society.” ”

“ Doubleday condescendingly, “spring readily to one's mind.” The hammer of the auctioneer went down with a startling crack; something that he said made the group of men laugh, and Erb was called by them to hear it. “'We can make our lives sublime, and' umpty, umpty, umpty, umpty, 'footsteps on the sands of time,” quoted Mr. Doubleday.
“I must hop off,” said Spanswick. “Hasn't he got a marvellous memory?”
“You'll take your friend with you?” said Erb.
“No,” said Spanswick, rather awkwardly, “I'll leave him. Fancy he's got something to say to you.” ”

“ Far be it from me to suggest for a single moment——”
“I'm getting tired of you,” interrupted Erb suddenly. “I wish you'd take your hook and go away. Your face worries me, and your talk makes my head ache.”
“Then it's time I came to close quarters. Listen to me!” Mr. Doubleday leaned his elbows on the table, and, bending forward, shielded his mouth with his hand that words might not go astray. “This is the situation. A man, a young man, takes up a certain high-minded attitude in regard to a certain firm; gets hauled up for libel; gets fined. His society comes to his rescue. ”

“ The threat did good in one way in that it aroused all his fighting instincts and that it diverted his mind from Worthing. Going down Walworth Road to look at Rosalind's house, he rehearsed the expected scene, striking the palm of one hand with the fist the other, and scoring with great neatness over Spanswick and other opponents. Women at the stalls stopped in their loud declaration of the admirable character of their goods, to watch the excited young man as he went by, and remarked to each other that he was evidently in love ”

“ The auctioneer ordered his man to show the horsehair sofa and chairs.
“My friend Doubleday,” said Spanswick, introducing his companion. Mr. Doubleday removed his silk hat with care, for the brims seemed rather weak, and in a husky voice declared himself honoured. “One of the cleverest men in South London,” whispered Spanswick to Erb, “only he won't recognise the fact. Educated, too!” ”

“ There could always come the superadded amusement of playing with lesser minds, directing them and making them perform, exercising control in the manner of the unseen director of a Punch and Judy show. ”

“ This self-sacrificing chap who has allowed himself to be sold up publicly as a protest against harmful trades, is the same man who earlier in the year was speaking throughout the length and breadth of the land in support of trades infinitely more harmful than the one carried on in Neckinger Road. ”

“ Doubleday, trying to clear his voice. “Reflects the highest credit on what I may venture to term the manhood of South London.” “The newspapers will ring with your praises, sir. Capital will sneak away, abashed and ashamed in the presence of such a brilliant example of self-sacrifice and whole-hearted devotion. I suppose you haven't got such a thing as a pipeful of tobacco about you? I've come out without my pouch.”
“Always comes out without his pouch,” remarked Spanswick admiringly.
“No, no!” said Mr. Doubleday, refusing with something of haughtiness Erb's further offer. ”