Through the Storm

Chapter I. June

is a month of festivities in London. From the centre of fashionable life a feverish excitement spreads, and reaches the outermost border thereof. Catching the prevalent disorder, the Dramatic, Literary, and Artistic Society gave a dinner. The Society often indulged in such feasts — social gatherings, at Avhich each member rejoiced in his talents and intellectual superiority, and magnanimously conceded some ability to his neighbour in return for the recognition of his own. This dinner was specially memorable, insomuch as it was given Avith a charitable object. S had just died, and had left his family in great want — a VOL. I. B not unusual fate for the families of men of genius. S had been a member of this Society, therefore it felt called upon to do something for him, and laid the basis of its benevolent efforts in a sumptuous banquet, after Avhich it was hoped that the generous impulses of the guests Avould Avake and give substantial evidence of their existence.

S had been strangely indifferent to material Avants, had lived Avithout luxury, often Avithout homely comforts, and had cherished the foolish idea that, having de voted his life to teaching his countrymen Avhat he apprehended of truth, they would, at his death, take his Avife and children to their bosom in grateful remembrance of him. Unfortunately, a Avidow and three children are not a legacy Avhich is much appreciated by one's country. The picture dealers strove to do their duty to their own Avives and families by turning S 's death to account, and raising the price of such of his Avorks as Avere in their hands. They seemed the only people on whom his death produced a direct effect, and the general public shoAved no enthusiasm on the subject of Mrs. S and his offspring. The number of members and guests at this dinner was unusually large, and included many shades of intellectual greatness and littleness.

Men Avere present avIio took not the smallest interest in S or his children, such as Gerald Mar, who, being the direct opposite of the dead man, looked upon him as a fool Avho had throAvn aAvay his chances for some Avild idea, and deserved no pity if he suffered for his folly. These Avere men Avho for the most part had " got on," whose names Avere on the lips of the multitude, Avho had ahvays thought the duties attaching to intellect completely sub ordinate to the ignorant desires of the mob, avIio regulated their art on the principle of demand and supply, and found the certainty of swift applause in the present preferable to a long struggle for excellence Avith doubtful recognition in the future. At this dinner there was the usual pro portion of men of little brains and less per severance, whose hearts' desire is to set up B a reputation for cleverness, and avIio find that in certain circles this is best gained by an assiduous Avaiting on their intellectual superiors, and a careful gathering up of the crumbs that fall from their feast of wit.

Many years ago, Claude Clinton had been made a member of this Society. The pub lication of a volume of rather weak poems had been his passport into the charmed circle. He Avas then at an age when the eclat of being one of a literary society had ineffable charms, and made him feel himself much more of a man of genius than in after years, when good work in a different field of literature made the world acknowledge him to be so. Clinton had been an enthusiastic admirer and a personal friend of S ; they had been bound to each other by one of the deepest of sympathies, identity of ideal in art, yet Clinton's presence at this banquet surprised everyone, for he Avas not a diner out, escheAved parties of every description, and lived much alone. Of a more vigorous and healthy mind than S , Clinton had gained a place in literature more rapidly than his friend had done in painting.

There was a force in Clinton Avhich compelled attention, but he shook off the caressing touch of the Avorld of Avealth and fashion, and stood aloof, undazzled and uncorrupted. He despised the false glory and applause that contented others, and left them the consolation of saying he Avas mad, the appli cation of Avhich adjective by mediocrity to those Avhose intellect leads them into un trodden paths is, to the former, more sooth ing than the railings of envy or the sneers of slander. The astonishment caused by Clinton's presence increased considerably Avhen, at the close of dinner, he stood up to speak ; it was an unprecedented occurrence in his life. There had been several displays of oratory. One foolish young felloAV, becoming con fused, had made himself repulsively ridiculous by drinking the health of S .

One man, experienced in Avriting "in meuioriam " articles in magazines, poured forth a torrent THROUGH THE STORM. of eulogium, so comprehensive in its nature that it might have been applied generally to the great of the Avhole earth. Claude, Avearied and irritated Avith it all, at last rose suddenly. He stood Avith his hand on the back of his chair, his head raised a little. He had a certain independence of bearing Avhich was never arrogant, a certain, unde niable manliness, alike of mind and body, Avhich made itself felt, though his frame Avas slight to fragility, and his face almost femi nine in its delicate colouring and outline. He becran — " I have not the gift of ready speech, I think you all knoAV that very well, but so many clever and eloquent things have been said of my friend S , you have lavished so much praise on his Avorst points, and have so entirely overlooked his excellencies, that I must say a feAV Avords about him.

Of his life I know as much as it is possible for one man to knoAV of another. Art Avas his god dess, and by art he understood truth, purity, goodness, all that makes life Avorth having. He never Avavered in his Avorship from his childhood to his grave ; he laid health, pleasure, intellect, fortune at her feet, and reflected her beauty in his noble, unstained life. He lived poorly, and the happiness he knew best was the happiness of never having sacri ficed the greatest for the least, or trampled truth underfoot for expediency. To those Avho understood him rightly his life Avas an education. He is dead. What can we do? His wife and children are left to us, and in the latter there may be some gleam from his soul. Shall we leave it to be crushed out by poverty ? I Avonder Iioav many relations of the great has England left to pine and perish from Avant ?

Ay, and the great themselves sometimes. Most of you knoAV, or ought to knoAV, better words than mine about that. ' The inquiry in England is not Avhether a man has talents and genius, but Avhether he is passive and polite, and a virtuous ass, and obedient to noblemen's opinions in art and science. If he is, he is a good man ; if not, he must be starved. Men have spent their life-blood under arms, or their brains, their whole soul in the toil THROUGH THE STORM. of the study, they haA"e left us immortal pos sessions, Avithout which Ave should be poor indeed, and how does England requite them ? It denies a morsel of bread to their children. The multitude Avill say they do not knoAV of the Avant and misery that come to great men's homes. Why do they not knoAV? Why is not the truth ascertained?

We have statistics enough, God knoAvs, obtained at infinite expense, of every ridiculous detail of manufacture and trade, Avhy are Ave so basely ungrateful to those to Avhom Ave OAve so deep a debt as to let their children rot in oblivion, their wants un noticed, unchronicled ? " What can we do? We are the brethren of S , bound together by the freemasonry of art. A good many of us are poor, I am, for one. I don't know exactly how it hap pens, but I am always poor" (a quaint smile stole over his face). "HoAvever, I have been thinking that I can do very Avell without my next piece of work. It is just finished, and I can get on, by skilful management, on the Avage of the last. Excuse me if I venture to say that I fancy all of you could tide over the privations you Avould endure from the loss of your best piece of forth coming Avork.

Is it not so ? Well, shall we give statue, book, picture, play, what ever our brain and hand have done Avith all their might, as laurels for the brow of the bravest man that ever fell in the fight for truth and beauty ?" His face kindled with the fire of enthusiasm, his words glowed with the heat of generous emotion. " Let us give for his sake," he went on, " not coldly in gold what Ave think we can conveniently spare, but Avarmly, Avith throb bing pulses, our best work, which is, to the true artist, the noblest gift he can bestow." He took a letter from his pocket, tore off a clear sheet, and wrote on the top, " Dedi cated to C. S." Beneath he wrote the name of a book he had just completed, and which everyone knew the world Avas looking for eagerly. As he passed the paper round, he said, with a laugh, " 1 wish my publishers Avere here, but, all honour to humanity, I do not think that they or the public will set less value on our Avork Avhen they know where the money is to go."

The assembly caught Clinton's enthusiasm someAvhat ; Avhen the paper returned to him it Avas well filled. Some men gave their best Avork, others some trifling effort which cost brain and hand, but little time or toil ; Avhile some feAV found this a favourite op portunity for getting rid of a failure to Avhich the Avorld held out no hopes of a glorious career. Everyone followed the leading of his nature. Clinton's enthusiasm stirred the surface of their feelings, but their generosity took the complexion of their minds. The Avinds move the surface of the Avater, but do not make it foul or clear. When the paper had gone round, Clinton slipped aAvay. He had gone through enough penance for one e\rening. It Avas a Avarm night in June. The gas, the wine, and the voices seemed to cling to him for some time after he left the dining-room.

Instead of going home, he Avandered through the streets ; such Avanderings had become a habit ever since he first came to live in London. He pierced the thin crust of seemliness and order Avhich daylight and law had spread over society, and saAv the depraA'ity of London in its nakedness. The empty, brainless pleasures of the rich and idle filled him Avith scorn and pity, yet he kneAv their temptations, their ignorance, and, moreover, recognized much real good done by them Avhen refinement Avas not selfish indulgence, and he was not inclined to Avithhold from them due praise. But, heart and soul, he Avas the people's cham pion. Their brutality, their blind suffering, hurt him keenly, and in his Avorks there Avas ahvays a voice calling for help, and a truth and poAver of description which brought the dens of our city under the eyes of those avIio sit in high places.

Clinton Avas walking along, his percep tions 'rather dulled by the echo of vain Avords, Avhen a crowd on the pavement in Tottenham Court Road brought his attention to the immediate surroundings. He quickly pushed his Avay into the midst of the mob. A man Avas lying on the pathway, a working-man apparentl}", though probably not a man with steady employment, but one Avho subsisted on odd jobs, for he seemed poorer than his class. A policeman was standing close to him. "Drunk, I suppose?" Clinton said, curtly. This was a sight he Avas tolerably familiar Avith in the streets of London at advanced hours of the night. An inert mass of un sightly clothes reeking of gin, tobacco, and filth, Avhich Avas roused into drunken resist ance Avhen the usual means of transport Avas brought into use. "No, sir," the policeman ansAvered ; "I think the man is dying."

Clinton Avent down on one knee beside him ; he could hear his stifled breathing He laid his hand on his heart. Presently he said — " I am doctor enough to know that he ought to be taken at once to a hospital. Some of you felloAvs had better call a cab." Instantly the streets resounded with half a dozen hideous whistles, produced by every ingenious contortion of finger and lip that it Avas possible to invent. Two or three urchins on the outskirts of the crowd Avent in pursuit of a cab, threatening, by the violence of their exertions, to sever their garments from their bodies. In five minutes two cabs arrived, the drivers contending for the prize in the most abusive language. Clinton lifted the sick man into one of them, and told the driver to go to St. George's Hospital; he kneAv the resident surgeon.

Many a time on their Avay Clinton thought the man Avould have died, his breath rattled in his throat, and he Avas almost gone. By-and-by he got better, and Avas able to speak. His first Avords were a refusal to go to the hospital. Clinton remonstrated. " You Avill be much better there," he said. " No, sir, I'll go home," he answered, feebly. " I have a Avife ; I'll go home." " I Avill tell your Avife Avhere you are ; you need not trouble yourself about that." "No, sir, I'll go home." He kept repeating this obstinately, and, though he spoke slowly and with difficulty, he seemed quite determined. " You cannot go home by yourself." "Yes, I can, I'll be all right directly." " I Avill take you home if you insist on goiii-r there." " It's no place for you, sir ; you can't go there." "Where is it?"

He named a bye-street close to Totten ham Court Road. Clinton knew it well ; it Avas one of the Avorst haunts in London ; many a time the police had Avarned him not to go doAvn there. " All right," he said, quietly. He put his head out of the Avindow, and ordered the cabman to drive there. The sick man tried again to dissuade him from accompanying him. "They're a rough lot there," he said. " I Avouldn't go if I was you." " I shall take you home." ' Not a Avord more Avas said till they came to the head of the street, then the driver dreAv up. Clinton naturally inquired " Avhat the devil he was stopping for." " Can't go down here, sir," he answered, doggedly. " If you can't, I can," Clinton answered. "So look sharp and make up your mind; and if you are going to be such a damned coAvard, give the reins to me."

A man of decision and pluck sometimes puts the soul of a man into a cur, though it is a temporary transmigration. The driver made a vicious cut at his horse, and turned sharply down the street. Everything was perfectly still. The lamps Avere so far apart that they seemed to show the darkness. Guided by the sick man, they stopped at a narrow passage, and Clinton lifted him out. He could not stand alone. The passage was so narrow that they could not Avalk abreast. With one arm round the body of the man, Clinton worked along shoulder foremost, feeling his way with the other hand on the wall. They came to a door, and, having opened it, groped slowly and painfully up a winding staircase, the filth of which Avas hidden by darkness, but Avas not difficult to guess at. It took a good deal more courage to face that than the dangers of robbery or violence.

At length their journey Avas at an end, they pushed a door open, and Avent into a room scarcely ten feet by six. Perhaps the size of the room had its advantages, there Avere not half a dozen families, as in others of larger dimensions. A quick glance round made Clinton acquainted with every detail. On a bed on the floor Avas a Avoman sleeping, and a young child. A girl Avas sitting by the window, working b}' the light of one talloAv candle. These Avere the only occu pants of the room. Hr could see in that minute that, though there Avere unmistake able signs of bare, abject poverty, the room Avas not as bad as many of the class; there was an effort to keep things clean and straight, and the atmosphere was bearable. The Avoman by the AvindoAV rose Avhen the door opened ; as she turned round, Clinton saAv that she Avas older than he at first imagined her to be.

He explained as briefly as possible. There was not much surprise in her face, that seemed an emotion impossible to her. She did not speak, but helped the sick man to a corner of the room, Avhere there was something spread on the floor to serve the purpose of a bed. Clinton Avas absorbed in Avatching her. There was a strange air of determination in her face. She must have been handsome, for the out lines of her face and head Avere remarkably good, but her beauty had hardened into de fiance and force, till that seemed to absorb all other expression. He noticed the strength, yet delicacy of her hands, and, doing so, instinctively glanced at her Avork, Avhich lay by the AvindoAv, and Avhich he could see was embroidery of elaborate de sign. The Avoman and child slept on undisturbed, the former with purple, SAVollen face and heavy breathing, the latter Avith Avan, small face and the grace of childhood.

It was the sleep of drunkenness and the sleep of innocence. " Noav, sir," said the other Avoman, turnvol. i. c ing toAvards him. " I think you had better go. We are not accustomed to evening dress here, and it might excite the neigh bours." " Can I not do anything for you ?" " You have done enough already. It's not AA'hat many fine gentlemen would do." " May I come to-morroAV to see how he is r " Just as you please. I think you had better keep out of a place like this." "If you can live in it," he said, quickly, " I don't suppose it will hurt me." SomehoAv she did not harmonize with her surroundings. "I'm used to it," she said, fiercely. " Never kneAv anything better." " Good night. I'll come to-raorroAV." " Just as you like," she ansAvered, ab ruptly. She held the flickering candle for him as he Avent down.

The inhabitants might have been all dead, the place Avas so still. From garret to basement it Avas packed with dangerous and reckless human creatures. Clinton Avas in evening dress, wore a watch, and had several sovereigns in his pocket. It struck him as strange that he reached his cab without meeting anyone. When he arrived at his OAvn door the face of that Avoman Avas still haunting him. " What is your fare ?" he asked the driver, by7 no means inclined to reAvard him with liberal payment. "Nothing," he said, doggedly. " What do you mean?" "I mean," he said, savagely, "that you've done a good Avork to-night, and I am damned if I am going to take a farding !" He chucked up his horse in an exasperated Avay, venting his feelings in a vindictive cut at the poor beast, and drove away. Clinton could not help smiling as he Avent in. " It is strange," thought he, " Avhat they think Ave are, and Avhat Ave think they are ; both sides are a long way from the truth." o2

Chapter II. The

incident just related had given Clinton the entree to Carter's Roav. He Avas not the man to neglect the opportunity it offered him of a more intimate knoAvledge of the lives therein. A long line of noble ancestry Avas certainly not necessary as a passport into Carter's Row, but an intro duction to its exclusive society was more difficult to obtain than to the kingly Courts of Europe, and Clinton understood its value. He Avent there early next day, as he Avas going doAvn to the country in the afternoon. He Avore Avhat he called his Avorking dress — a rather shabby velveteen coat and Avide aAvake hat. He put some embroidery de signs in his pocket, trusting to find favour thereby in the eyes of the severe-lookin" woman, Avhose face was still present to him after five hours' sound sleep. The staircase of No. 17, seen in the day light, Avith a feAV gleams of sunshine on it here and there, Avherever it managed to creep in through windoAv-panes covered Avith the dust of years, Avas not a pleasing sight.

Decaying cabbage-stalks and orange peels, a portion of a woman's boot, to which the imaginative mind quickly fitted the foot, and added the Avhole person of the owner, several broken bottles, and a slimy coating on the boards, to Avhich all previous rubbish had been gradually ground doAvn by passing feet — these were some of the internal de corations. Clinton Avent up rapidly. He Avas evidently expected, for the pale face of the small child had been rubbed till it shone, and the drunken Avoman had been got rid of somehoAv, probably by the allurements of threepence pocket-money, Avith freedom to spend it as her soul loved. Clinton, after the first greeting, sat down as if his present surroundings were those he had been ahvays accustomed to. His manner Avas pleasantly free from either patronage or familiarity.

" Hoav are you to-day ?" he asked the sick man. " Better, thank you kindly, sir ; but I am sorry )"Ou took the trouble to come — this is not the sort of place for you." " I am not a prince, or anybody grand ; and, even if I Avere, it Avould not hurt me to come here." Here Clinton turned round so as to face the woman, who was standing rather behind him. "I found your husband very hard to manage last night," he said ; " he Avas very firm for a sick man." He said this involuntarily, not with a view of ascer taining their relationship. " I am not her husband," the man said. " She is a kinder cousin, and a widdy. Her name is Prescott, mine is Spence — George Spence. My Avife is out, thank God ! and this is my child." The thanksgiving seemed as natural as the statement of relationship. "Well, I suppose it is my turn hoav to say who I am," Clinton answered.

" My name is Claude Clinton. I am a workman in my own way. Sometimes I haA'e devilish hard work, and very little pay. There is no trade union in our business, and we can't go on strike." In the intervals of talking, Clinton had been making most open love to the small, starved-looking child, and it had by this time so far overcome its feelings of timidity that it had taken its thumb out of its mouth, and was making undecided approaches to the fascinator. It had not yet committed itself to any course of action, and might at any moment change its tactics, and retire Avith a hoAvl. " I was a cabinet-maker," said Spence, " but my health failed me, and now I can only do odd jobs." Clinton was looking at him, and thinking he would not be able to do jobs of any kind much longer. " You see, sir," he went on, " my Avife has brought me down a bit.

She is not a bad sort; but she has took to drink, and if it A\ras not for Esther here " Mrs. Prescott cut him short, coming for- Avard and standing close to them. "What is the good of talking about that, George? I don't suppose Mr. Clinton cares to hear about our troubles. We get on pretty Avell, and Avhen you are stronger Ave'll go aAvay" from here." Clinton looked at her as she spoke. Her face had a strong interest for him. He could fancy those firmly-closed lips quietly retentive during any torture, no word to be draAvn from them. He could picture her arming her lover for battle Avithout a quiver. He always associated the possible acts of individuals with their faces, and in some cases his imagination took Avild flights. "You Avere doing some Avork last nidi.," he said to her, suddenly; "may I look at it?"

"There is not much to see," she answer ed, Avithout moving. " I think it Avas Avell done, and so I brought some designs. If you do that sort of thing I should be very glad, for I have been looking for some one for weeks to do it." She did not ansAver. " It is all business," he said, quietly, " there is no obligation on one side or the other." " Why" should you refuse the gentleman?" interposed George Spence. " We are not so Avell off that Ave can throw away a chance." "Will A"ou show me the designs?" she said to Clinton. He took them out of his pocket, and began to explain hoAV they were to be done. " I can do it," she said. " I'll sIioav you what I've got here." She brought a bundle from the corner of the room. "I can do this sort of work perfectly," she said, seem ingly unconscious of having praised herself.

" I do it for shops. Sometimes they" give me the patterns, sometimes I copy them from books in the shop windows. Very few people like this work, they tell me, so I don't get much to do." " Can you do one of these designs for me if I give you an order for the materials?" "Yes; but on one condition, that you don't come here any more. If you Avant to do a kindness, leave us to ourselves. I'll take the Avork to your rooms in Lincoln's Inn." Seeing the look of astonishment in Clinton's face, she added, quickly, " Yes, I know who you are, and Avhere you live ; but that is my business, not yours, so now, sir, Avill you go ?" " I'll give you an order for the materials for the Avork first, and Avhen it is done you can bring it to me." After he had written the address on his card he said — " I'll go hoav since you wish it ; but I daresay I shall come again some day."

Then he freed himself gently from the Avee child, avIio now, Avith the contempt Avhich familiarity proverbially breeds, was pulling his coat-tails, and turning out his pockets quite comfortably. When Claude had come doAvn the stair case, and Avas once more in the open air he Avas surprised at the appearance of the court. When he had gone up it looked deserted, when he came down the inhabitants SAvarmed out of the doors and alleys. There Avere broad-shouldered men, their shirt-sleeves rolled up, and their fists clench ed, as if indicating their readiness for a free fight ; brutal faces, whose usual doggedness of expression Avas seldom relieved but by a gleam of rage. Old women, on Avhose coarse lips and hanging skin, life, Avith its indelible pencil, had Avritten every base passion and repulsive thought, never to be erased till the page of existence itself mouldered into dust.

Young women, even more pitiful in their youth and passing beauty, Avith fresh gaiety" of heart, turned into reckless insolence, innocent pleasure in dress and bright colour turned into taAvdry adornment of dirt and vice. Clinton's eyes SAvept over the crowd. He knew the history of such lives too well. He had scarcely time to think why they Avere all there, whether with friendly inten tions or the reverse, Avhen a rough cheer burst from their lips. "That's the SAvell as carried in George Spence." " I call that something like a man." " If there Avere a feAV more like him we might get a chance." Such sentences enlightened Clinton as to the cause of the assembly. ItAvas a genuine burst of hero-Avorship. Instinctively Clinton took off his hat. It Avas an acknowledg ment of the recognition of good.

If he had been thanked in polished language by the most cultured in the land, he could not have felt a deeper sense of unworthiness or a stronger desire that he had done some thing really" meriting praise as he heard the roar of rough applause that greeted him. They gathered round him, and his hand Avas shaken by one after another of the croAvd. Some of the hands had filched purses from the pockets of passers-by in the street ; some were skilled in ev"ery ingenuity" of lock-picking and Avindow-cutting ; some had probably closed on the throat of an antagonist with murderous grip, or in drunk en rage had levelled some Avretched Avoman Avho had crossed their Avill, but this enthusiastic acknoAvledgment of pluck and human kindness Avashed them clean for the moment, and made their grasp the greatest honour he could receive.