Part 36 (1/2)
”These are the wealthy citizens of a nation engaged in fighting for its life,” re, very interesting Let us go”
We went out and on, passing a public-house crooe of children in the icy street It was a day of Intercession for the success of England in the war This was placarded everywhere We entered, or, rather, Oro did, I following hi service was in progress The preacher in the pulpit, a very ableforth upon the necessity for national repentance and self-denial; also of prayer In the body of the church exactly thirty-two people,to him with an air of placid acceptance
”The priest talks well, but his hearers are notdoors of a great h to others this would have been impossible, for the place was filled fro and saudy woirls danced, throwing their legs above their heads Then they vanished amidst applause, and a wo a horrible and vulgar song full of topical allusions, which was received with screaht by the enormous audience
”Here the hearers are very o,” said Oro, and ent
At a recruiting station we paused a moment to consider posters supposed to be attractive, the very sight of which sent a thrill of shah me I remember that the inscription under one of theirl say?”
”Is that how you gather your soldiers? Later it will be otherwise,” said Oro, and passed on
We reached Blackfriars and entered a hall at the doors of which stood wo women Their countenances seemed to strike Oro, and he motioned me to follow hiregation of perhaps a thousand people A man in the blue and red unifor of duty to God and country, of self-denial, hope and forgiveness He seemed a humble person, but his words were earnest, and love flowed froation wept, others stared at him open-mouthed, a feere very weary, slept He called them up to receive pardon, and a number, led by the sweet-faced women, came and knelt before him He and others whispered to them, then seeed
”Let us go,” said Oro ”I do not understand these rites, but at last in your great and wonderful city I have seen so that is pure and noble”
We went out In the streets there was great excitehts, like huge fingers of flalare of a searchlight,a long and sinister object floating high above us and gleah it were made of silver Flashes carew nearer and nearer A house collapsed with a crash just behind us
”Ah!” said Oro, with a smile ”I know this--it is ar as it hen the world was different and yet the same”
As he spoke, a motor-bus ru with his arirl just ahead of us; seeirl fell in a heap on the paveether and yet she appeared to be sitting down The ers hurtled through the air, mere hideous lumps that had beendown the pavear still stuck in the corner of itsagain to see it But does this city of yours understand?”
We watched a while A crowd gathered Policemen ran up, ambulances came
The place was cleared, and all that was left they carried away A few minutes later another irl Anotherthe hole in the roadway, travelled on, its conductor keeping a keen look-out for fares
The street was cleared by the police; the airshi+p continued its course, spawning bombs in the distance, and vanished The incident was closed
”Let us go horeat and wonderful city I would rest in the quiet of Nyo and think”
The next thing that I re:
”If you don'tLady (he still called her that) is co here to have a talk with me which I should prefer to be private Excuseyou, but you have overslept yourself; indeed, I think it e by the sun, for my watch is very erratic now, ever since Bickley tried to clean it”
”I am sorry, ht I was in London--in fact, I could swear that I have been there”
”Then,” interrupted Bickley, who had followed Bastin into the hut, giving lance hich I was now faht back an evening paper with you”
A night or two later I was again suddenly awakened to feel that Oro was approaching He appeared like a ghost in the bright ht, Humphrey, we must make another journey I would visit the seat of the war”
”I do not wish to go,” I said feebly