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determined to stand no nonsense； and shall not hesitate to suppress by
every means in the power of the majorityincluding； if need be； Prussian
measuresany whisper from those misguided and unpatriotic persons whose
so…called principles induce them to assert their right to have opinions
of their own。 This has ever been a free country； and they shall not
imperil its freedom by their volubility and self…conceit。〃 Here Mr。
Lavender paused for breath； and in the darkness a faint noise； as of a
mouse scrattling at a wainscot； attracted his attention。 〃Wonderful；〃 he
thought； elated by the silence； 〃that I should so have succeeded in
riveting their attention as to be able to hear a mouse gnawing。 I must
have made a considerable impression。〃 And； fearing to spoil it by further
speech； he set to work to grope his way round the chapel wall in the hope
of coming to the door。 He had gone but a little way when his
outstretched hand came into contact with something warm； which shrank
away with a squeal。
〃Oh！〃 cried Mr。 Lavender； while a shiver went down his spine； 〃what is
that？〃
〃Me；〃 said a stifled voice。 〃Who are you？〃
〃A public speaker； madam；〃 answered Mr。 Lavender； unutterably relieved。
Don't be alarmed。
〃Ouch！〃 whispered the voice。 That madman！
〃I assure you； madam；〃 replied Mr。 Lavender； striving to regain contact；
〃I wouldn't harm you for the world。 Can you tell me in what portion of
the hall we are？〃 And crouching down he stretched out his arms and felt
about him。 No answer came； but he could tell that he was between two
rows of chairs； and； holding to the top of one； he began to sidle along；
crouching； so as not to lose touch with the chairs behind him。 He had
not proceeded the length of six chairs in the pitchy darkness when the
light was suddenly turned up； and he found himself glaring over the backs
of the chairs in front into the eyes of a young woman； who was crouching
and glaring back over the same chairs。
〃Dear me said Mr。 Lavender； as with a certain dignity they both rose to
their full height； 〃I had no conception〃
Without a word； the young woman put her hand up to her back hair； sidled
swiftly down the row of chairs； ran down the aisle； and vanished。 There
was no one else in the chapel。 Mr。 Lavender； after surveying the
considerable wreckage； made his way to the door and passed out into the
night。 〃Like a dream；〃 he thought ； 〃but I have done my duty； for no
meeting was ever more completely broken up。 With a clear conscience and
a good appetite I can how go home。〃
XII
SPEEDS UP TRANSPORT； AND SEES A DOCTOR
Greatly cheered by his success at the Peace meeting； Mr。 Lavender
searched his papers next morning to find a new field for his activities；
nor had he to read far before he came on this paragraph：
〃Everything is dependent on transport； and we cannot sufficiently
urge that this should be speeded up by
every means in our power。〃
〃How true！〃 he thought。 And； finishing his breakfast hastily； he went
out with Blink to think over what he could do to help。 〃I can exhort；〃
he mused； 〃anyone engaged in transport who is not exerting himself to the
utmost。 It will not be pleasant to do so； for it will certainly provoke
much ill…feeling。 I must not； however； be deterred by that； for it is
the daily concomitant of public life； and hard words break no bones； as
they say； but rather serve to thicken the skins and sharpen the tongues
of us public men； so that； we are able to meet our opponents with their
own weapons。 I perceive before me； indeed； a liberal education in just
those public qualities wherein I am conscious of being as yet deficient。
〃And his heart sank within him； thinking of the carts on the hills of
Hampstead and the boys who drove them。 〃What is lacking to them；〃 he
mused； 〃is the power of seeing this problem steadily and seeing it whole。
Let me endeavour to impart this habit to all who have any connection with
transport。〃
He had just completed this reflection when； turning a corner； he came on
a large van standing stockstill at the top of an incline。 The driver was
leaning idly against the hind wheel filling a pipe。 Mr。 Lavender glanced
at the near horse； and seeing that he was not distressed； he thus
addressed the man：
〃Do you not know； my friend； that every minute is of importance in this
national crisis？ If I could get you to see the question of transport
steadily； and to see it whole； I feel convinced that you would not be
standing there lighting your pipe when perhaps this half…hour's delay in
the delivery of your goods may mean the death of one of your comrades at
the front。〃
The man； who was wizened； weathered； and old； with but few teeth； looked
up at him from above the curved hands with which he was coaxing the flame
of a match into the bowl of his pipe。 His brow was wrinkled； and
moisture stood at the comers of his eyes。
〃I assure you；〃 went on Mr。 Lavender； 〃that we have none of us the right
in these days to delay for a single minute the delivery of anythingnot
even of speeches。 When I am tempted to do so； I think of our sons and
brothers in the trenches； and how every shell and every word saves their
lives； and I deliver〃
The old man； who had finished lighting his pipe； took a long pull at it；
and said hoarsely：
〃Go on！〃
〃I will；〃 said Mr。 Lavender； 〃for I perceive that I can effect a
revolution in your outlook； so that instead of wasting the country's time
by leaning against that wheel you will drive on zealously and help to win
the war。〃
The old man looked at him； and one side of his face became drawn up in a
smile； which seemed to Mr。 Lavender so horrible that he said： 〃Why do you
look at me like that？〃
〃Cawn't 'elp it；〃 said the man。
〃What makes you；〃 continued Mr。 Lavender； 〃pause here with your job half
finished？ It is not the hill which keeps you back； for you are at the
top； and your horses seem rested。〃
〃Yes；〃 said the old man； with another contortion of his face； 〃they're
restedleastways； one of 'em。〃
〃Then what delays youif not that British sluggishness which we in
public life find such a terrible handicap to our efforts in conducting
the war？〃
〃Ah！〃 said the old man。 〃But out of one you don't make two； guv'nor。
Git on the offside and you'll see it a bit steadier and a bit 'oler than
you 'ave 'itherto。〃
Struck by his words； which were accompanied by a painful puckering of the
checks； Mr。 Lavender moved round the van looking for some defect in its
machinery； and suddenly became aware that the off horse was lying on the
ground； with the traces cut。 It lay on its side； and did not move。
〃Oh！〃 cried Mr。 Lavender； 〃oh！〃 And going up to the horse's head he
knelt down。 The animal's eye was glazing。
〃Oh！〃 he cried again； 〃poor horse！ Don't die！〃 And tears dropped out of
his eyes on to the horse's cheek。 The ey