Author’sNoteTheoriginofTheSecretAgent:subject，treatment，artisticpurpose，andeveryothermotivethatmayinduceanauthortotakeuphispen，can，Ibelieve，betracedtoaperiodofmentalandemotionalreaction。
　　TheactualfactsarethatIbeganthisbookimpulsivelyandwroteitcontinuously。WheninduecourseitwasboundanddeliveredtothepublicgazeIfoundmyselfreprovedforhavingproduceditatall。Someoftheadmonitionsweresevere，othershadasorrowfulnote。IhavenotgotthemtextuallybeforemebutIrememberperfectlythegeneralargument，whichwasverysimple;andalsomysurpriseatitsnature。Allthissoundsaveryoldstorynow！Andyetitisnotsuchalongtimeago。ImustconcludethatIhadstillpreservedmuchofmypristineinnocenceintheyear1907。
　　Itseemstomenowthatevenanartlesspersonmighthaveforeseenthatsomecriticismswouldbebasedonthegroundofsordidsurroundingsandthemoralsqualorofthetale。
　　Thatofcourseisaseriousobjection。Itwasnotuniversal。Infactitseemsungracioustoremembersolittlereproofamongstsomuchintelligentandsympatheticappreciation;andItrustthatthereadersofthisPrefacewillnothastentoputitdowntowoundedvanityoranaturaldispositiontoingratitude。Isuggestthatacharitableheartcouldverywellascribemychoicetonaturalmodesty。Yetitisn’texactlymodestythatmakesmeselectreprooffortheillustrationofmycase。No，itisn’texactlymodesty。
　　IamnotatallcertainthatIammodest;butthosewhohavereadsofarthroughmyworkwillcreditmewithenoughdecency，tact，savoir—faire，whatyouwill，topreventmefrommakingasongformyowngloryoutofthewordsofotherpeople，No！Thetruemotiveofmyselectionliesinquiteadifferenttrait。Ihavealwayshadapropensitytojustifymyaction。
　　Nottodefend。Tojustify。NottoinsistthatIwasrightbutsimplytoexplainthattherewasnoperverseintention，nosecretscornforthenaturalsensibilitiesofmankindatthebottomofmyimpulses。
　　Thatkindofweaknessisdangerousonlysofarthatitexposesonetotheriskofbecomingabore;fortheworldgenerallyisnotinterestedinthemotivesofanyovertactbutinitsconsequences。Manmaysmileandsmilebutheisnotaninvestigatinganimal。Helovestheobvious。
　　Heshrinksfromexplanations。YetIwillgoonwithmine。It’sobviousthatIneednothavewrittenthatbook。Iwasundernonecessitytodealwiththatsubject;usingthewordsubjectbothinthesenseofthetaleitselfandinthelargeroneofaspecialmanifestationinthelifeofmankind。ThisIfullyadmit。Butthethoughtofelaboratingmereuglinessinordertoshock，orevensimplytosurprisemyreadersbyachangeoffront，hasneverenteredmyhead。InmakingthisstatementIexpecttobebelieved，notonlyontheevidenceofmygeneralcharacterbutalsoforthereason，whichanybodycansee，thatthewholetreatmentofthetale，itsinspiringindignationandunderlyingpityandcontempt，provemydetachmentfromthesqualorandsordidnesswhichliesimplyintheoutwardcircumstancesofthesetting。
　　TheinceptionofTheSecretAgentfollowedimmediatelyonatwoyears’periodofintenseabsorptioninthetaskofwritingthatremotenovel，Nostromo，withitsfar—offLatin—Americanatmosphere;andtheprofoundlypersonalMirroroftheSea。ThefirstanintensecreativeeffortonwhatIsupposewillalwaysremainmylargestcanvas，thesecondanunreservedattempttounveilforamomenttheprofounderintimaciesoftheseaandtheformativeinfluencesofnearlyhalfmylifetime。
　　Itwasaperiod，too，inwhichmysenseofthetruthofthingswasattendedbyaveryintenseimaginativeandemotionalreadinesswhich，allgenuineandfaithfultofactsasitwas，yetmademefeel（thetaskoncedone）
　　asifIwereleftbehind，aimlessamongstmerehusksofsensationsandlostinaworldofother，ofinferior，values。
　　Idon’tknowwhetherIreallyfeltthatIwantedachange，changeinmyimagination，inmyvision，andinmymentalattitude。Iratherthinkthatachangeinthefundamentalmoodhadalreadystolenovermeunawares。
　　Idon’trememberanythingdefinitehappening。WithTheMirroroftheSeafinishedinthefullconsciousnessthatIhaddealthonestlywithmyselfandmyreadersineverylineofthatbook，Igavemyselfuptoanotunhappypause。Then，whileIwasyetstandingstill，asitwere，andcertainlynotthinkingofgoingoutofmywaytolookforanythingugly，thesubjectofTheSecretAgent—Imeanthetale—cametomeintheshapeofafewwordsutteredbyafriendinacasualconversationaboutanarchistsorratheranarchistactivities;howbroughtaboutIdon’tremembernow。
　　Iremember，however，remarkingonthecriminalfutilityofthewholething，doctrine，action，mentality;andonthecontemptibleaspectofthehalf—crazyposeasofabrazencheatexploitingthepoignantmiseriesandpassionatecredulitiesofamankindalwayssotragicallyeagerforself—destruction。
　　Thatwaswhatmadeformeitsphilosophicalpretencessounpardonable。
　　Presently，passingtoparticularinstances，werecalledthealreadyoldstoryoftheattempttoblowuptheGreenwichObservatory;ablood—stainedinanityofsofatuousakindthatitwasimpossibletofathomitsoriginbyanyreasonableorevenunreasonableprocessofthought。Forperverseunreasonhasitsownlogicalprocesses。Butthatoutragecouldnotbelaidholdofmentallyinanysortofway，sothatoneremainedfacedbythefactofamanblowntobitsfornothingevenmostremotelyresemblinganidea，anarchisticorother。AstotheouterwalloftheObservatoryitdidnotshowasmuchasthefaintestcrack。
　　Ipointedallthisouttomyfriendwhoremainedsilentforawhileandthenremarkedinhischaracteristicallycasualandomniscientmanner:
　　`Oh，thatfellowwashalfanidiot。Hissistercommittedsuicideafterwards。’
　　Thesewereabsolutelytheonlywordsthatpassedbetweenus;forextremesurpriseatthisunexpectedpieceofinformationkeptmedumbforamomentandhebeganatoncetotalkofsomethingelse。Itneveroccurredtomelatertoaskhowhearrivedathisknowledge。Iamsurethatifhehadseenonceinhislifethebackofananarchistthatmusthavebeenthewholeextentofhisconnectionwiththeunderworld。Hewas，however，amanwholikedtotalkwithallsortsofpeople，andhemayhavegatheredthoseilluminatingfactsatsecondorthirdhand，fromacrossing—sweeper，fromaretiredpoliceofficer，fromsomevaguemaninhisclub，orevenperhapsfromaMinisterofStatemetatsomepublicorprivatereception。
　　Oftheilluminatingqualitytherecouldbenodoubtwhatever。Onefeltlikewalkingoutofaforestontoaplain—therewasnotmuchtoseebutonehadplentyoflight。No，therewasnotmuchtoseeand，frankly，foraconsiderabletimeIdidn’tevenattempttoperceiveanything。Itwasonlytheilluminatingimpressionthatremained。Itremainedsatisfactorybutinapassiveway。Then，aboutaweeklater，IcameuponabookwhichasfarasIknowhadneverattainedanyprominence，therathersummaryrecollectionsofanAssistantCommissionerofPolice，anobviouslyablemanwithastrongreligiousstraininhischaracterwhowasappointedtohispostatthetimeofthedynamiteoutragesinLondon，awaybackintheeighties。Thebookwasfairlyinteresting，verydiscreetofcourse;andIhavebynowforgottenthebulkofitscontents。Itcontainednorevelations，itranoverthesurfaceagreeably，andthatwasall。Iwon’teventrytoexplainwhyIshouldhavebeenarrestedbyalittlepassageofaboutsevenlines，inwhichtheauthor（IbelievehisnamewasAnderson）reproducedashortdialogueheldintheLobbyoftheHouseofCommonsaftersomeunexpectedanarchistoutrage，withtheHomeSecretary。IthinkitwasSirWilliamHarcourtthen。Hewasverymuchirritatedandtheofficialwasveryapologetic。
　　Thephrase，amongstthethreewhichpassedbetweenthem，thatstruckmemostwasSirW。Harcourt’sangrysally:`Allthat’sverywell。ButyourideaofsecrecyoverthereseemstoconsistofkeepingtheHomeSecretaryinthedark。’CharacteristicenoughofSirW。Harcourt’stemperbutnotmuchinitself。Theremusthavebeen，however，somesortofatmosphereinthewholeincidentbecauseallofasuddenIfeltmyselfstimulated。
　　Andthenensuedinmymindwhatastudentofchemistrywouldbestunderstandfromtheanalogyoftheadditionofthetiniestlittledropoftherightkind，precipitatingtheprocessofcrystallizationinatesttubecontainingsomecolourlesssolution。
　　Itwasatfirstformeamentalchange，disturbingaquieted—downimagination，inwhichstrangeforms，sharpinoutlinebutimperfectlyapprehended，appearedandclaimedattentionascrystalswilldobytheirbizarreandunexpectedshapes。Onefelltomusingbeforethephenomenon—evenofthepast:ofSouthAmerica，acontinentofcrudesunshineandbrutalrevolutions，ofthesea，thevastexpanseofsaltwaters，themirrorofheaven’sfrownsandsmiles，thereflectoroftheworld’slight。Thenthevisionofanenormoustownpresenteditself，ofamonstroustownmorepopulousthansomecontinentsandinitsman—mademightasifindifferenttoheaven’sfrownsandsmiles;
　　acrueldevoureroftheworld’slight。Therewasroomenoughtheretoplaceanystory，depthenoughforanypassion，varietyenoughthereforanysetting，darknessenoughtoburyfivemillionsoflives。
　　Irresistiblythetownbecamethebackgroundfortheensuingperiodofdeepandtentativemeditations。Endlessvistasopenedbeforemeinvariousdirections。Itwouldtakeyearstofindtherightway！Itseemedtotakeyears！……SlowlythedawningconvictionofMrsVerloc’smaternalpassiongrewuptoaflamebetweenmeandthatbackground，tingeingitwithitssecretardourandreceivingfromitinexchangesomeofitsownsombrecolouring。AtlastthestoryofWinnieVerlocstoodoutcompletefromthedaysofherchildhoodtotheend，unproportionedasyet，witheverythingstillonthefirstplaneasitwere;butreadynowtobedealtwith。Itwasamatterofaboutthreedays。
　　Thisbookisthatstory，reducedtomanageableproportions，itswholecoursesuggestedandcentredroundtheabsurdcrueltyoftheGreenwichParkexplosion。IhadthereataskIwillnotsayarduousbutofthemostabsorbingdifficulty。Butithadtobedone。Itwasanecessity。
　　ThefiguresgroupedaboutMrsVerlocandrelateddirectlyorindirectlytohertragicsuspicionthat`lifedoesn’tstandmuchlookinginto’，aretheoutcomeofthatverynecessity。PersonallyIhaveneverhadanydoubtoftherealityofMrsVerloc’sstory;butithadtobedisengagedfromitsobscurityinthatimmensetown，ithadtobemadecredible，Idon’tmeansomuchastohersoulbutastohersurroundings，notsomuchastoherpsychologybutastoherhumanity。Forthesurroundingshintswerenotlacking。Ihadtofighthardtokeepatarm’slengththememoriesofmysolitaryandnocturnalwalksalloverLondoninmyearlydays，lesttheyshouldrushinandoverwhelmeachpageofthestoryastheseemergedoneafteranotherfromamoodasseriousinfeelingandthoughtasanyinwhichIeverwrotealine。InthatrespectIreallythinkthatTheSecretAgentisaperfectlygenuinepieceofwork。Eventhepurelyartisticpurpose，thatofapplyinganironicmethodtoasubjectofthatkind，wasformulatedwithdeliberationandintheearnestbeliefthatironictreatmentalonewouldenablemetosayallIfeltIwouldhavetosayinscornaswellasinpity。ItisoneoftheminorsatisfactionsofmywritinglifethathavingtakenthatresolveIdidmanage，itseemstome，tocarryitrightthroughtotheend。Astothepersonageswhomtheabsolutenecessityofthecase—MrsVerloc’scase—bringsoutinfrontoftheLondonbackground，fromthem，too，Iobtainedthoselittlesatisfactionswhichreallycountforsomuchagainstthemassofoppressivedoubtsthathauntsopersistentlyeveryattemptatcreativework。Forinstance，ofMrVladimirhimself（whowasfairgameforacaricaturalpresentation）Iwasgratifiedtohearthatanexperiencedmanoftheworldhadsaid`thatConradmusthavebeenintouchwiththatsphereorelsehasanexcellentintuitionofthings’，becauseMrVladimirwas`notonlypossibleindetailbutquiterightinessentials’。
　　ThenavisitorfromAmericainformedmethatallsortsofrevolutionaryrefugeesinNewYorkwouldhaveitthatthebookwaswrittenbysomebodywhoknewalotaboutthem。Thisseemedtomeaveryhighcompliment，consideringthat，asamatterofhardfact，Ihadseenevenlessoftheirkindthantheomniscientfriendwhogavemethefirstsuggestionforthenovel。I
　　havenodoubt，however，thattherehadbeenmomentsduringthewritingofthebookwhen1wasanextremerevolutionist，Iwon’tsaymoreconvincedthantheybutcertainlycherishingamoreconcentratedpurposethananyofthemhadeverdoneinthewholecourseofhislife。Idon’tsaythistoboast。Iwassimplyattendingtomybusiness。InthematterofallmybooksIhavealwaysattendedtomybusiness。Ihaveattendedtoitwithcompleteself—surrender。Andthisstatement，too，isnotaboast。Icouldnothavedoneotherwise。Itwouldhaveboredmetoomuchtomake—believe。
　　Thesuggestionsforcertainpersonagesofthetale，bothlaw—abidingandlawless，camefromvarioussourceswhich，perhaps，hereandthere，somereadermayhaverecognized。Theyarenotveryrecondite。ButIamnotconcernedheretolegitimizeanyofthosepeople，andevenastomygeneralviewofthemoralreactionsasbetweenthecriminalandthepoliceallIwillventuretosayisthatitseemstometobeatleastarguable。
　　Thetwelveyearsthathaveelapsedsincethepublicationofthebookhavenotchangedmyattitude。IdonotregrethavingwrittenIt。Lately，circumstances，whichhavenothingtodowiththegeneraltenorofthisPreface，havecompelledmetostripthistaleoftheliteraryrobeofindignantscornithascostmesomuchtofitonitdecently，yearsago。Ihavebeenforced，sotospeak，tolookuponitsbarebones。Iconfessthatitmakesagrislyskeleton。ButstillIwillsubmitthattellingWinnieVerloc’sstorytoitsanarchisticendofutterdesolation，madness，anddespair，andtellingitasIhavetoldithere，Ihavenotintendedtocommitagratuitousoutrageonthefeelingsofmankind。
　　1920J。C。
　　TheSecretAgentChapter1CHAPTER1
　　MrVerloc，goingoutinthemorning，lefthisshopnominallyinchargeofhisbrother—in—law。Itcouldbedone，becausetherewasverylittlebusinessatanytime，andpracticallynoneatallbeforetheevening。MrVerloccaredbutlittleabouthisostensiblebusiness。And，moreover，hiswifewasinchargeofhisbrother—in—law。
　　Theshopwassmall，andsowasthehouse。ItwasoneofthosegrimybrickhouseswhichexistedinlargequantitiesbeforetheeraofreconstructiondawneduponLondon。Theshopwasasquareboxofaplace，withthefrontglazedinsmallpanes。Inthedaytimethedoorremainedclosed;intheeveningitstooddiscreetlybutsuspiciouslyajar。
　　Thewindowcontainedphotographsofmoreorlessundresseddancinggirls;
　　nondescriptpackagesinwrapperslikepatentmedicines;closedyellowpaperenvelopes，veryflimsy，andmarkedtwoandsixinheavyblackfigures;
　　afewnumbersofancientFrenchcomicpublicationshungacrossastringasiftodry;adingybluechinabowl，acasketofblackwood，bottlesofmarkingink，andrubberstamps;afewbookswithtitleshintingatimpropriety;
　　afewapparentlyoldcopiesofobscurenewspapers，badlyprinted，withtitlesliketheTorch，theGong—rousingtitles。Andthetwogas—jetsinsidethepaneswerealwaysturnedlow，eitherforeconomy’ssakeorforthesakeofthecustomers。
　　Thesecustomerswereeitherveryyoungmen，whohungaboutthewindowforatimebeforeslippinginsuddenly;ormenofamorematureage，butlookinggenerallyasiftheywerenotinfunds。Someofthatlastkindhadthecollarsoftheirovercoatsturnedrightuptotheirmoustaches，andtracesofmudonthebottomoftheirnethergarments，whichhadtheappearanceofbeingmuchwornandnotveryvaluable。Andthelegsinsidethemdidnot，asageneralrule，seemofmuchaccounteither。Withtheirhandsplungeddeepinthesidepocketsoftheircoats，theydodgedinsideways，oneshoulderfirst，asifafraidtostartthebellgoing。
　　Thebell，hungonthedoorbymeansofacurvedribbonofsteel，wasdifficulttocircumvent。Itwashopelesslycracked;butofanevening，attheslightestprovocation，itclatteredbehindthecustomerwithimpudentvirulence。
　　Itclattered;andatthatsignal，throughthedustyglassdoorbehindthepainteddealcounter，MrVerlocwouldissuehastilyfromtheparlourattheback。Hiseyeswerenaturallyheavy;hehadanairof’havingwallowed，fullydressed，alldayonanunmadebed。Anothermanwouldhavefeltsuchanappearanceadistinctdisadvantage。Inacommercialtransactionoftheretailordermuchdependsontheseller’sengagingandamiableaspect。
　　ButMrVerlocknewhisbusiness，andremainedundisturbedbyanysortofaestheticdoubtabouthisappearance。Withafirm，steady—eyedimpudence，whichseemedtoholdbackthethreatofsomeabominablemenace，hewouldproceedtoselloverthecountersomeobjectlookingobviouslyandscandalouslynotworththemoneywhichpassedinthetransaction:asmallcardboardboxwithapparentlynothinginside，forinstance，oroneofthosecarefullyclosedyellowflimsyenvelopes，orasoiledvolumeinpapercoverswithapromisingtitle。Nowandthenithappenedthatoneofthefaded，yellowdancinggirlswouldgetsoldtoanamateur，asthoughshehadbeenaliveandyoung。
　　SometimesitwasMrsVerlocwhowouldappearatthecallofthecrackedbell。WinnieVerlocwasayoungwomanwithafullbust，inatightbodice，andwithbroadhips。Herhairwasverytidy。Steady—eyedlikeherhusband，shepreservedanairofunfathomableindifferencebehindtherampartofthecounter。Thenthecustomerofcomparativelytenderyearswouldgetsuddenlydisconcertedathavingtodealwithawoman，andwithrageinhisheartwouldprofferarequestforabottleofmarkingink，retailvaluesixpence（priceinVerloc’sshoponeandsixpence），which，onceoutside，hewoulddropstealthilyintothegutter。
　　Theeveningvisitors—themenwithcollarsturnedupandsofthatsrammeddown—noddedfamiliarlytoMrsVerloc，andwithamutteredgreeting，lifteduptheflapattheendofthecounterinordertopassintothebackparlour，whichgaveaccesstoapassageandtoasteepflightofstairs。
　　ThedooroftheshopwastheonlymeansofentrancetothehouseinwhichMrVerloccarriedonhisbusinessofasellerofshadywares，exercisedhisvocationofaprotectorofsociety，andcultivatedhisdomesticvirtues。
　　Theselastwerepronounced。Hewasthoroughlydomesticated。Neitherhisspiritual，norhismental，norhisphysicalneedswereofthekindtotakehimmuchabroad。Hefoundathometheeaseofhisbodyandthepeaceofhisconscience，togetherwithMrsVerloc’swifelyattentionsandMrsVerloc’smother’sdeferentialregard。
　　Winnie’smotherwasastout，wheezywoman，withalargebrownface。
　　Sheworeablackwigunderawhitecap。Herswollenlegsrenderedherinactive。
　　SheconsideredherselftobeofFrenchdescent，whichmighthavebeentrue;
　　andafteragoodmanyyearsofmarriedlifewithalicensedvictuallerofthemorecommonsort，sheprovidedfortheyearsofwidowhoodbylettingfurnishedapartmentsforgentlemennearVauxhallBridgeRoadinasquareonceofsomesplendourandstillincludedinthedistrictofBelgravia。
　　Thistopographicalfactwasofsomeadvantageinadvertisingherrooms;
　　butthepatronsoftheworthywidowwerenotexactlyofthefashionablekind。Suchastheywere，herdaughterWinniehelpedtolookafterthem。
　　TracesoftheFrenchdescentwhichthewidowboastedofwereapparentinWinnie，too。Theywereapparentintheextremelyneatandartisticarrangementofherglossydarkhair。Winniehadalsoothercharms:heryouth;herfull，roundedform;herclearcomplexion;theprovocationofherunfathomablereserve，whichneverwentsofarastopreventconversation，carriedononthelodger’spartwithanimation，andonherswithanequableamiability。
　　ItmustbethatMrVerlocwassusceptibletothesefascinations。MrVerlocwasanintermittentpatron。Hecameandwentwithoutanyveryapparentreason。HegenerallyarrivedinLondon（liketheinfluenza）fromtheContinent，onlyhearrivedunheraldedbythepress;andhisvisitationssetinwithgreatseverity。Hebreakfastedinbed，andremainedwallowingtherewithanairofquietenjoymenttillnooneveryday—andsometimeseventoalaterhour。ButwhenhewentoutheseemedtoexperienceagreatdifficultyinfindinghiswaybacktohistemporaryhomeintheBelgraviansquare。
　　Heleftitlate，andreturnedtoitearly—asearlyasthreeorfourinthemorning;andonwakingupattenaddressedWinnie，bringinginthebreakfasttray，withjocular，exhaustedcivility，inthehoarse，failingtonesofamanwhohadbeentalkingvehementlyformanyhourstogether。
　　Hisprominent，heavy—liddedeyesrolledsidewaysamorouslyandlanguidly，thebedclotheswerepulleduptohischin，andhisdarksmoothmoustachecoveredhisthicklipscapableofmuchhoneyedbanter。
　　InWinnie’smother’sopinionMrVerlocwasaverynicegentleman。Fromherlife’sexperiencegatheredinvarious`businesshouses’thegoodwomanhadtakenintoherretirementanidealofgentlemanlinessasexhibitedbythepatronsofprivate—saloonbars。MrVerlocapproachedthatideal;
　　heattainedit，infact。
　　`Ofcourse，we’lltakeoveryourfurniture，mother，’Winniehadremarked。
　　Thelodging—housewastobegivenup。Itseemsitwouldnotanswertocarryiton。ItwouldhavebeentoomuchtroubleforMrVerloc。Itwouldnothavebeenconvenientforhisotherbusiness。Whathisbusinesswashedidnotsay;butafterhisengagementtoWinniehetookthetroubletogetupbeforenoon，anddescendingthebasementstairs，makehimselfpleasanttoWinnie’smotherinthebreakfast—roomdownstairswhereshehadhermotionlessbeing。Hestrokedthecat，pokedthefire，hadhislunchservedtohimthere。Heleftitsslightlystuffycosinesswithevidentreluctance，but，allthesame，remainedouttillthenightwasfaradvanced。
　　HeneverofferedtotakeWinnietotheatres，assuchanicegentlemanoughttohavedone。Hiseveningswereoccupied。Hisworkwasinawaypolitical，hetoldWinnieonce。Shewouldhave，hewarnedher，tobeverynicetohispoliticalfriends。Andwithherstraight，unfathomableglancesheansweredthatshewouldbeso，ofcourse。
　　HowmuchmorehetoldherastohisoccupationitwasimpossibleforWinnie’smothertodiscover。Themarriedcoupletookheroverwiththefurniture。Themeanaspectoftheshopsurprisedher。ThechangefromtheBelgraviansquaretothenarrowstreetinSohoaffectedherlegsadversely。
　　Theybecameofanenormoussize。Ontheotherhand，sheexperiencedacompleterelieffrommaterialcares。Herson—in—law’sheavygoodnatureinspiredherwithasenseofabsolutesafety。Herdaughter’sfuturewasobviouslyassured，andevenastohersonSteviesheneedhavenoanxiety。Shehadnotbeenabletoconcealfromherselfthathewasaterribleencumbrance，thatpoorStevie。ButinviewofWinnie’sfondnessforherdelicatebrother，andofMrVerloc’skindandgenerousdisposition，shefeltthatthepoorboywasprettysafeinthisroughworld。AndinherheartofheartsshewasnotperhapsdispleasedthattheVerlocshadnochildren。AsthatcircumstanceseemedperfectlyindifferenttoMrVerloc，andasWinniefoundanobjectofquasi—maternalaffectioninherbrother，perhapsthiswasjustaswellforpoorStevie。
　　Forhewasdifficulttodisposeof，thatboy。Hewasdelicateand，inafrailway，good—looking，too，exceptforthevacantdroopofhislowerlip。Underourexcellentsystemofcompulsoryeducationhehadlearnedtoreadandwrite，notwithstandingtheunfavourableaspectofthelowerlip。Butaserrand—boyhedidnotturnoutagreatsuccess。Heforgothismessages;hewaseasilydivertedfromthestraightpathofdutybytheattractionsofstraycatsanddogs，whichhefolloweddownnarrowalleysintounsavourycourts;bythecomediesofthestreets，whichhecontemplatedopen—mouthed，tothedetrimentofhisemployer’sinterests;orbythedramasoffallenhorses，whosepathosandviolenceinducedhimsometimestoshriekpiercinglyinacrowd，whichdislikedtobedisturbedbysoundsofdistressinitsquietenjoymentofthenationalspectacle。Whenledawaybyagraveandprotectingpoliceman，itwouldoftenbecomeapparentthatpoorSteviehadforgottenhisaddress—atleastforatime。Abrusquequestioncausedhimtostuttertothepointofsuffocation。Whenstartledbyanythingperplexingheusedtosquinthorribly。However，heneverhadanyfits（whichwasencouraging）;
　　andbeforethenaturaloutburstsofimpatienceonthepartofhisfatherbecouldalways，inhischildhood’sdays，runforprotectionbehindtheshortskirtsofhissisterWinnie。Ontheotherhand，hemighthavebeensuspectedofhidingafundofrecklessnaughtiness。Whenhehadreachedtheageoffourteenafriendofhislatefather，anagentforaforeignpreservedmilkfirm，havinggivenhimanopeningasoffice—boy，hewasdiscoveredonefoggyafternoon，inhischiefsabsence，busylettingofffireworksonthestaircase。Hetouchedoffinquicksuccessionasetoffiercerockets，angrycatherinewheels，loudlyexplodingsquibs—andthemattermighthaveturnedoutveryserious。Anawfulpanicspreadthroughthewholebuilding。Wild—eyed，chokingclerksstampededthroughthepassagesfullofsmoke;silkhatsandelderlybusinessmencouldbeseenrollingindependentlydownthestairs。Steviedidnotseemtoderiveanypersonalgratificationfromwhathehaddone。Hismotivesforthisstrokeoforiginalityweredifficulttodiscover。ItwasonlylateronthatWinnieobtainedfromhimamistyandconfusedconfession。Itseemsthattwootheroffice—boysinthebuildinghadworkeduponhisfeelingsbytalesofinjusticeandoppressiontilltheyhadwroughthiscompassiontothepitchofthatfrenzy。
　　Buthisfather’sfriend，ofcourse，dismissedhimsummarilyaslikelytoruinhisbusiness。AfterthataltruisticexploitSteviewasputtohelpwashthedishesinthebasementkitchen，andtoblackthebootsofthegentlemenpatronizingtheBelgravianmansion。Therewasobviouslynofutureinsuchwork。Thegentlementippedhimashillingnowandthen。MrVerlocshowedhimselfthemostgenerousoflodgers。Butaltogetherallthatdidnotamounttomucheitherinthewayofgainorprospects;sothatwhenWinnieannouncedherengagementtoMrVerlochermothercouldnothelpwondering，withasighandaglancetowardsthescullery，whatwouldbecomeofpoorStephennow。
　　ItappearedthatMrVerlocwasreadytotakehimovertogetherwithhiswife’smotherandwiththefurniture，whichwasthewholevisiblefortuneofthefamily。MrVerlocgatheredeverythingasitcametohisbroad，good—naturedbreast。Thefurniturewasdisposedtothebestadvantagealloverthehouse，butMrsVerloc’smotherwasconfinedtotwobackroomsonthefirstfloor。
　　ThelucklessSteviesleptinoneofthem。Bythistimeagrowthofthinfluffyhairhadcometoblur，likeagoldenmist，thesharplineofhissmalllowerjaw。Hehelpedhissisterwithblindloveanddocilityinherhouseholdduties。MrVerlocthoughtthatsomeoccupationwouldbegoodforhim。Hissparetimeheoccupiedbydrawingcircleswithcompassandpencilonapieceofpaper。Heappliedhimselftothatpastimewithgreatindustry，withhiselbowsspreadoutandbowedlowoverthekitchentable。
　　ThroughtheopendooroftheparlouratthebackoftheshopWinnie，hissister，glancedathimfromtimetotimewithmaternalvigilance。