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 Data Analysis for Beginners
A Beginner's Adventure in Analysis and Visualization
2 in 1 Guide

Daniel Garfield

© Copyright. All rights reserved by Daniel Garfield.

The content contained within this book may not be reproduced, duplicated,
or transmitted without direct written permission from the author or the
publisher.
Under no circumstances will any blame or legal responsibility be held
against the publisher, or author, for any damages, reparation, or monetary
loss due to the information contained within this book, either directly or
indirectly.
Legal Notice:
This book is copyright protected. It is only for personal use. You cannot
amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part, or the content
within this book, without the consent of the author or publisher.
Disclaimer Notice:
Please note the information contained within this document is for
educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been executed
to present accurate, up to date, reliable, complete information. No
warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that
the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical, or
professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from
various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting
any techniques outlined in this book.
By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is
the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as
a result of the use of information contained within this document, including,
but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
A. The importance of data analysis in the modern world
B. Why data analysis is accessible and relevant to beginners
C. Setting the stage for a beginner's adventure in analysis and
visualization
II. Understanding the Basics of Data Analysis
A. What is data analysis and why is it important?
B. Key concepts and terminology in data analysis
C. Exploring different types of data and their characteristics
III. Exploring Data Analysis Tools and Software
A. Introduction to popular data analysis tools and software
B. Getting started with data manipulation and exploration
C. Hands-on exercises to familiarize beginners with data analysis
tools
IV. Data Preparation and Cleaning
A. Gathering and importing data from various sources
B. Exploring data quality issues and handling missing values
C. Techniques for data cleaning, deduplication, and outlier detection
V. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
A. Understanding the goals and techniques of EDA
B. Visualizing data through charts, graphs, and plots
C. Extracting insights and patterns from data through EDA
VI. Basic Statistical Concepts for Data Analysis
A. Overview of fundamental statistical concepts
B. Descriptive statistics: measures of central tendency and variability
C. Introduction to probability and inferential statistics
VII. Key Techniques for Data Analysis
A. Hypothesis testing and statistical significance
B. Correlation analysis and its applications
C. Regression analysis for predictive modeling
VIII. Data Visualization
A. Principles of effective data visualization
B. Introduction to popular data visualization tools and libraries
C. Creating impactful visualizations to communicate insights
IX. Introduction to Machine Learning
A. Overview of machine learning concepts and algorithms
B. Supervised learning: classification and regression
C. Unsupervised learning: clustering and dimensionality reduction
X. Bringing It All Together: Case Studies and Projects
A. Real-world case studies showcasing data analysis techniques
B. Hands-on projects to apply learned concepts and techniques
C. Tips for effectively presenting and communicating analysis results

XI. Ethics and Considerations in Data Analysis

A. The ethical implications of data analysis and privacy concerns
B. Bias and fairness in data analysis
C. Responsible data usage and considerations for beginners
XII. Future Trends and Further Exploration
A. Emerging trends and advancements in data analysis
B. Resources for continuous learning and skill development
C. Opportunities for further exploration in the field of data analysis
XIII. Conclusion
A. Recap of key concepts and skills learned
B. Encouragement for beginners to continue their data analysis
journey
C. Final thoughts and reflections on the adventure in analysis and
visualization
I. Introduction

A. The importance of data analysis in the modern world

In the modern world, where data is generated at an unprecedented rate, the
importance of data analysis cannot be overstated. Data analysis has
emerged as a powerful tool that drives decision-making, innovation, and
progress across various industries and sectors. From business and finance to
healthcare and education, the ability to extract meaningful insights from
data has become a crucial skill for organizations and individuals alike.
One of the primary reasons why data analysis holds such significance today
is its potential to uncover hidden patterns, trends, and correlations. With the
massive volume of data available, businesses can gain valuable insights into
consumer behavior, market trends, and competitive landscapes. By
harnessing the power of data analysis, companies can make informed
decisions, optimize their strategies, and gain a competitive edge in the
market.
Data analysis also plays a pivotal role in research and development.
Scientists and researchers rely on data analysis to validate hypotheses,
identify scientific breakthroughs, and advance our understanding of the
world. Whether it's studying climate change, exploring the mysteries of the
universe, or developing life-saving drugs, data analysis enables scientists to
make sense of complex data sets and make significant discoveries.
Moreover, data analysis has revolutionized the field of healthcare. Medical
professionals can analyze patient records, clinical trials, and genetic data to
enhance diagnosis accuracy, develop personalized treatment plans, and
predict disease outbreaks. By leveraging data analysis techniques,
healthcare providers can save lives, improve patient outcomes, and drive
advancements in medical research.
In the realm of education, data analysis has the potential to transform the
way we teach and learn. Educators can analyze student performance data,
identify areas of improvement, and tailor instruction to meet individual
needs. This personalized approach to education can lead to better student
engagement, improved academic outcomes, and a more efficient allocation
of educational resources.
Data analysis also plays a vital role in addressing societal challenges.
Governments can analyze census data, crime statistics, and social media
trends to make data-driven policy decisions and allocate resources
effectively. Data analysis can help identify and address social inequalities,
optimize transportation systems, and enhance public safety.
However, the importance of data analysis is not without its challenges. As
the volume and complexity of data continue to grow, there is a need for
skilled professionals who can navigate and interpret the data effectively.
Data privacy and ethical considerations also come into play, as responsible
data analysis requires maintaining the confidentiality and security of
sensitive information.
In conclusion, data analysis is of paramount importance in the modern
world. It empowers organizations, drives innovation, and improves
decision-making processes. From business optimization and scientific
discoveries to personalized healthcare and educational advancements, data
analysis has the potential to transform industries and shape a better future.
Embracing the power of data analysis and investing in the necessary
resources and skills will undoubtedly be a defining factor in the success and
progress of individuals and organizations in the years to come.

B. Why data analysis is accessible and relevant to beginners

In today's data-driven world, the ability to analyze data is becoming
increasingly valuable across various fields and industries. Data analysis has
traditionally been associated with experts who possess advanced technical
skills and knowledge. However, in recent years, the accessibility of data
analysis tools and resources has opened up opportunities for beginners to
delve into this realm. Let's explore why data analysis is now more
accessible and relevant to beginners than ever before.
1. User-friendly Tools: One of the primary reasons data analysis is
accessible to beginners is the availability of user-friendly tools.
In the past, data analysis required extensive programming skills
and complex software. Nowadays, there are numerous intuitive
tools and platforms designed specifically for beginners. These
tools provide a graphical interface and simplified workflows,
eliminating the need for extensive coding knowledge. Beginners
 can now perform data analysis tasks using drag-and-drop
features, making it easier to manipulate and visualize data.
2. Abundance of Learning Resources: The rise of data analysis has
also led to an abundance of learning resources tailored to
beginners. Online platforms, educational websites, and
interactive courses offer tutorials, videos, and step-by-step guides
for those who want to learn data analysis from scratch. These
resources often provide practical examples and real-world
datasets, allowing beginners to apply their newly acquired
knowledge in a hands-on manner. With the wealth of resources
available, beginners can develop their data analysis skills at their
own pace.
3. Open Data Initiatives: The increasing availability of open data
initiatives has significantly contributed to the relevance of data
analysis for beginners. Governments, organizations, and research
institutions are releasing vast amounts of publicly accessible
data. This data, ranging from demographic information to climate
statistics, allows beginners to explore and analyze real-world
datasets. By working with these open datasets, beginners can
gain insights, make observations, and draw conclusions, thereby
developing their analytical skills.
4. Practical Applications in Diverse Fields: Data analysis is relevant
to a wide range of fields, making it appealing to beginners with
different interests and backgrounds. Whether you're interested in
marketing, healthcare, finance, or social sciences, data analysis
plays a crucial role in understanding trends, making informed
decisions, and driving improvements. The ability to extract
meaningful insights from data has become an essential skill for
professionals in various industries. As a beginner, the relevance
of data analysis in your chosen field can serve as a motivating
factor to learn and apply analytical techniques.
5. Career Opportunities: The demand for data-driven decision-
making has created numerous career opportunities for data
analysts and data scientists. With the growth of industries such as
artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data, there is a
continuous need for individuals who can analyze and interpret
 data effectively. For beginners, this presents an opportunity to
enter a field with a promising job market. By acquiring data
analysis skills, beginners can open doors to diverse and fulfilling
career paths.

In conclusion, data analysis is now more accessible and relevant to

beginners due to user-friendly tools, abundant learning resources, open data
initiatives, practical applications in various fields, and the growing career
opportunities. Beginners no longer need to possess advanced technical
skills to engage in data analysis. With the right resources and a curious
mindset, anyone can embark on a journey to explore and harness the power
of data analysis.

C. Setting the stage for a beginner's adventure in analysis and

visualization
Setting the stage for a beginner's adventure in analysis and visualization is
an exciting and empowering endeavor. It's a journey that opens up a world
of possibilities, where beginners can uncover insights, tell compelling
stories, and make informed decisions using data. As a writer, let me paint a
vivid picture of what this adventure entails and how beginners can embark
on this transformative path.
1. Embracing Curiosity: At the heart of every successful data
analysis and visualization adventure is an insatiable curiosity. As
a beginner, it's essential to cultivate a sense of wonder and a
desire to explore the stories that data can tell. Approach data
with an open mind, allowing yourself to ask questions, challenge
assumptions, and seek patterns and relationships. Curiosity fuels
the journey, propelling you to uncover hidden gems within the
vast landscape of data.

At the heart of every successful data analysis and visualization

adventure lies a fundamental trait that separates the exceptional from
the ordinary: an insatiable curiosity. Like a flame igniting the darkest
corners of the unknown, curiosity acts as a beacon, guiding us through
the labyrinthine world of data, beckoning us to explore its vast and
intricate mysteries. For beginners venturing into this realm,
cultivating a sense of wonder and a burning desire to unveil the
stories that data can tell is not just important—it is essential.
Approaching data with an open mind becomes the key to unlocking
its potential. As a beginner, it is natural to feel overwhelmed by the
sheer volume and complexity of data. However, it is precisely in these
moments that curiosity comes to our aid, urging us to cast aside
preconceived notions and embrace the boundless possibilities that lie
before us.
Curiosity prompts us to ask questions, propelling us deeper into the
core of the data's narrative. Rather than accepting surface-level
explanations, we challenge assumptions and seek a deeper
understanding. We become detectives of information, piecing together
fragments to form a comprehensive picture. In this pursuit, we mustn't
shy away from the unknown or fear the uncertainties that come with
it. Instead, we embrace them, knowing that every question we ask has
the potential to lead us to new insights and discoveries.
Moreover, curiosity nudges us to recognize patterns and relationships
within the data. It is the engine that drives us to connect the dots,
weaving together seemingly disparate threads to form a cohesive
tapestry. As we delve into the data, we become explorers charting
uncharted territories, recognizing the interconnectedness of variables,
and uncovering hidden gems that would have otherwise remained
concealed.
Yet, the true beauty of curiosity lies not just in the end results it helps
us achieve but also in the journey itself. Curiosity propels us forward,
like a gust of wind filling our sails, propelling us further into the vast
landscape of data. With every step, we learn and grow, accumulating
knowledge and honing our skills. We transform from novices to
seasoned practitioners, armed with the power to extract meaning and
insight from the most complex datasets.
Embracing curiosity means embracing the adventure that awaits us. It
is an invitation to explore, to question, and to embrace the unknown.
As beginners, we possess a unique advantage—a fresh perspective
unburdened by preconceived notions or biases. It is through this lens
of curiosity that we unlock the full potential of data, unleashing its
hidden stories and revealing its inherent truths.
So, let us embark on this journey with open minds and hearts
brimming with curiosity. Let us approach the vast expanse of data as
an explorer would approach uncharted territory—fueled by wonder,
driven by questions, and unyielding in our pursuit of knowledge. In
the realm of data analysis and visualization, curiosity is the compass
that guides us, the light that illuminates the path, and the force that
propels us toward success. Embrace curiosity, and the secrets of data
will unfold before you, revealing a world of infinite possibilities.
2. Defining Goals: Before embarking on your adventure, it's crucial
to define your goals. What do you hope to achieve through data
analysis and visualization? Is it to gain insights into customer
behavior, optimize business processes, or understand societal
trends? By clearly defining your objectives, you can focus your
efforts and design a roadmap that aligns with your goals. Setting
achievable milestones along the way will provide a sense of
progress and keep you motivated.

Before setting foot on the exhilarating journey of data analysis and

visualization, it is of utmost importance to take a moment to define
your goals. Like a compass guiding explorers through uncharted
territory, clearly understanding what you hope to achieve becomes the
beacon that directs your efforts and shapes your path. Whether you
seek insights into customer behavior, optimization of business
processes, or an understanding of societal trends, defining your
objectives lays the foundation for a successful data adventure.
By articulating your goals, you breathe life into your aspirations,
transforming abstract ideas into tangible targets. It is an opportunity to
envision the impact you wish to create through the power of data.
With a clear sense of purpose, you can shape your analysis and
visualization efforts accordingly, ensuring that every step you take
aligns with your desired outcomes.
Furthermore, goal setting allows you to focus your energy and
resources effectively. In the vast expanse of data, it's easy to get lost
in a sea of possibilities. However, by defining your objectives, you
narrow down your focus, enabling you to prioritize the areas that
matter most to you. This clarity helps you allocate your time,
attention, and resources efficiently, maximizing your chances of
success.
Setting achievable milestones along your data journey is equally
important. Just as a traveler marks milestones on a map to measure
progress, these milestones serve as markers of your advancement.
Breaking your overarching goals into smaller, attainable milestones
provides you with a sense of accomplishment along the way. Each
milestone reached becomes a stepping stone, propelling you closer to
your ultimate destination and inspiring you to continue with
unwavering determination.
Additionally, milestones act as checkpoints that allow you to evaluate
your progress and make adjustments if necessary. They serve as
opportunities to reflect on your achievements, reassess your
strategies, and fine-tune your approach. By regularly checking in on
your milestones, you gain valuable insights that inform your decision-
making process, ensuring that you stay on track and remain aligned
with your goals.
Moreover, defining your goals instills a sense of motivation and
purpose. When faced with complex data analysis tasks or the
intricacies of visualization, having a clear objective in mind keeps you
motivated and focused. It reminds you of the bigger picture and the
impact your work can have. Even during challenging moments, your
goals become a driving force, propelling you forward with
determination and resilience.
As you embark on your data analysis and visualization adventure,
take the time to define your goals. Embrace the opportunity to
envision the impact you wish to create and shape your path
accordingly. Set achievable milestones that guide your progress and
provide a sense of accomplishment. And remember, your goals are
not mere destinations but beacons that illuminate your journey,
infusing it with purpose, motivation, and the promise of success.
Define your goals, and let the transformative power of data unfold
before you.
3. Learning the Fundamentals: Data analysis and visualization
require a solid foundation of knowledge. As a beginner, start by
learning the fundamentals of data analysis, including concepts
 like data types, data cleaning, and basic statistical techniques.
Understand how to work with spreadsheets or data analysis
software, and familiarize yourself with visualization techniques
to effectively communicate your findings. Online courses,
tutorials, and books can provide structured learning resources to
help you gain the necessary skills.

Embarking on the exhilarating voyage of data analysis and

visualization demands a sturdy foundation of knowledge. As a
beginner, it is essential to embrace the journey of learning, starting
with the fundamentals that form the bedrock of this transformative
field. By mastering the basics, such as data types, data cleaning,
statistical techniques, and visualization principles, you lay the
groundwork for a successful exploration of the data realm.
Begin your learning odyssey by familiarizing yourself with the key
concepts of data analysis. Understand the various types of data—
categorical, numerical, and ordinal—and how they differ in their
characteristics and analytical treatments. Grasp the significance of
data cleaning, the process of removing errors, inconsistencies, and
outliers that can distort analysis outcomes. With a solid understanding
of these fundamental concepts, you can confidently navigate the vast
sea of data and ensure the accuracy and reliability of your analyses.
Acquaint yourself with the tools of the trade, such as spreadsheets or
data analysis software. Learn how to import, organize, and manipulate
data within these platforms. Excel, Google Sheets, or more advanced
software like R or Python can become your trusted companions as
you traverse the landscape of data analysis. Explore their
functionalities, experiment with data transformations, and become
comfortable with their features to harness their full potential in your
analytical endeavors.
Basic statistical techniques form an integral part of the data analyst's
toolkit. Invest time in comprehending concepts like descriptive
statistics, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis.
These statistical foundations will enable you to extract meaningful
insights from data, make informed decisions, and uncover patterns or
relationships that lie hidden beneath the surface. As you delve deeper
into statistical methods, you expand your analytical capabilities and
unlock a whole new realm of possibilities.
Visualization is a powerful medium that breathes life into data,
allowing it to be understood and appreciated at a glance. Familiarize
yourself with visualization techniques and principles, learning how to
choose appropriate chart types, use color effectively, and design
compelling visuals that communicate insights with clarity and impact.
Develop an eye for aesthetics and storytelling through data
visualization, for it is through this artful blend of information and
design that the true essence of data comes alive.
While the journey of learning is vast and can seem overwhelming,
numerous resources exist to guide you on your path. Online courses,
tutorials, and books provide structured and accessible learning
materials that cater to all levels of expertise. Platforms like Coursera,
edX, or DataCamp offer comprehensive courses on data analysis and
visualization, led by experienced instructors. Blogs, forums, and
communities dedicated to data enthusiasts create spaces for
collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mentorship, fostering growth
and development in the field.
Embrace the exhilarating process of learning the fundamentals.
Dedicate time and effort to master the concepts, tools, and techniques
that underpin data analysis and visualization. Approach each learning
opportunity with an open mind and a hunger for knowledge, and
gradually, the pieces will fall into place. As your foundational
knowledge solidifies, you will gain the confidence and skills
necessary to embark on daring data adventures, uncovering insights
and weaving compelling narratives that shape the world around us.
4. Exploring Diverse Tools: The realm of data analysis and
visualization offers a multitude of tools and technologies. As a
beginner, it's important to explore and experiment with different
tools to find what suits your needs and preferences. Excel, Python
libraries like Pandas and Matplotlib, and visualization tools like
Tableau or Power BI are just a few examples. Each tool has its
strengths and learning curve, so don't hesitate to try out different
options and find the ones that resonate with you.
Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
"She's taken her jacket!" exclaimed Mrs. Arb, noticing the empty peg
behind the door when they came down again to the back-room.
"Ah! That's better," Mr. Earlforward commented, expelling breath.
"I've left my candle lighted," he said a moment later. "I'll go and
blow it out."
"But——"
"Oh! I'm coming back. I'm coming back."
While he was gone Mrs. Arb had a momentary lapse into terror.
Suppose——! She glimpsed again the savage and primeval passion
half-disclosed in the gestures and the glance of the young man,
hints of forces uncontrollable, terrific and fatal.
"I expect he's that young fellow that's running after her," said Mr.
Earlforward when he returned. "Seems he's had shell-shock! So I
heard. She'll have to leave him alone—that's clear!" He was glad to
think that he had found a new argument to help him to persuade
Elsie not to desert him.
"She seemed to be so respectable!" observed Mrs. Arb.
"Well, she is!"
"Poor girl!" sighed Mrs. Arb; she felt a genuine, perturbing
compassion for Elsie. "Ought I to go and tell the police, Mr.
Earlforward?"
"If I were you I shouldn't have the police meddling. It's all right."
"Well, anyhow, I can't pass the night here by myself. No, I can't. And
that's flat!" She smiled almost comically.
"You go off to bed," said Mr. Earlforward, with a magnificent wave of
the hand. "I'll make myself comfortable in this rocking-chair. I'll stop
till daylight."
Mrs. Arb said that she couldn't think of such a thing, and that he
was too kind. He mastered her. Then she said she would put a bit of
coal on the fire.
"You needn't." He stopped her. "I'll go across and get my overcoat
and a quilt, and lock up there. It'll be all right. It'll be all right."
He reappeared with his overcoat on and the quilt a little rain-
spotted. Mrs. Arb was wearing a long thick mantle.
"What's this?" he asked. "What's the meaning of this?"
"I couldn't leave you to sit up by yourself. I couldn't, really. I'm going
to sit up too."
 IX
SUNDAY MORNING
"She never came to you this morning?" questioned Mr. Earlforward
with eager and cheerful interest.
"No. Did she to you?"
Mr. Earlforward shook his head, smiling.
"You seem to be quite the philosopher about it," said Mrs. Arb. "But
it must be most inconvenient for a man."
"Oh, no! I can always manage, I can."
"Well, it's very wonderful of you—that's all I say."
This was Sunday morning, the third day after the episode of the
carving-knife.
"What's so funny," said Mrs. Arb, "is that she should come yesterday
and Friday, just as if nothing had happened, and yet she doesn't
come to-day! And yet it was settled plainly enough she was to come
—early, an hour to you and an hour to me, wasn't it now? I do think
she might have sent round a message or something—even if she is
ill."
"Yes, but you see it never strikes them the inconvenience they're
causing. Not that she's a bad girl. She's a very good girl."
"They always work better for gentlemen," remarked Mrs. Arb with an
air vivacious and enigmatic.
Mr. Earlforward, strolling towards the steps, had chanced—if in this
world there is such a thing as chance—to see Mrs. Arb, all dressed,
presumably, for church—standing in her shop and regarding the
same with the owner's critical, appreciative eye. Mr. Earlforward had
a good view of her, as anybody else might have had, because only
the blue blind of the door was down, this being the recognized
sufficient sign to the public of a shut shop. The two small windows
had blinds, but they were seldom drawn, except to protect butter
against sunshine. The pair had exchanged smiles, Mrs. Arb had
hospitably unlocked, and Mr. Earlforward had entered. To him she
presented a finely satisfactory appearance, dressed in black, with
vermilion flowers in her hat, good shoes on her feet, and good
uncreased gloves held in her ringed hand. She was slim—Mr.
Earlforward thought of her as petite—but she was imposing, with all
her keen restlessness of slight movements and her changing glance.
No matter how her glance changed it was always the glance of
authority and of intelligence.
On her part, Mrs. Arb beheld Mr. Earlforward with favour. His pointed
short beard, so well trimmed, seemed to give him the status of a
pillar of society. She still liked his full red lips and his fresh
complexion. And he was exceedingly neat. True, he wore the same
black, shirt-hiding tie as on weekdays, and his wristbands were still
invisible; his hat and overcoat were not distinguished! But he had on
a distinguished new blue suit; she was quite sure that he was
inaugurating it that day. His slight limp pleased and touched her. His
unshakable calmness impressed her. Oh! He was a man with
reserves, both of character and of goods. Secure in these reserves
he could front the universe. He was self-reliant without being self-
confident. He was grave, but his little eyes had occasionally a
humorous gleam. She had noticed the gleam even when he picked
up the carving-knife on Thursday night. His demeanour in that
dreadful crisis had been perfect. In brief, Mr. Earlforward, considered
as an entity, was nearly faultless.
Mr. Earlforward, on the other hand, was still secretly trembling as he
realized more and more clearly the dangers which he had narrowly
escaped in the Thursday night affair; and he had not begun to
tremble until Friday morning!
"Rather early, isn't it, if you're going to church?" he suggested.
"I always like to be early if it's a strange church, and I've not been in
there at all yet."
"St. Andrew's?"
"I don't know what its name is. The one up the steps in the middle
of the Square."
"Yes. St. Andrew's, that is."
Without another word they then by a common impulse both moved
out of the shop, which Mrs. Arb smartly locked up. In spite of the
upset caused by Elsie's defection, and the prospect of future trouble
and annoyance in this connexion, they were very happy, and they
had quite overlooked the fact that their combined years amounted to
ninety, or thereabouts. The sun was feebly shining on the Sabbath
scene. The bells of St. Andrew's were jangling.
"I see you have some plant-pots on your top window-sill," observed
Mrs. Arb. "Do you ever water them?"
An implied criticism! Mr. Earlforward enjoyed it, for it proved that
they were getting intimate, as, indeed, became two people who had
slept (well) opposite one another in two chairs through the better
part of a coldish night.
"I do not," said Mr. Earlforward, waggishly, stoutly.
The truth was that for years he had seen the plant-pots without
noticing them. They were never moved, never touched. The
unconquerable force of nature was illustrated in the simple fact that
one or two of the plants still sturdily lived, displaying a grimy green.
"I love plants," said Mrs. Arb.
They passed up the steps, Mr. Earlforward a foot or so behind his
heroine.
"Now what I don't understand," said she, turning upon him and
stopping, "is why the Square should be so much higher than the
road. It means that all the carts and things, even the milk-carts,
have to go all the way round by Gilbert Street to get into the Square
from the side. Why couldn't they have had it all on the same level?"
Exquisitely feminine, he thought! "Why couldn't they have had it all
on the same level?" Absurd! Delicious! He adored the delicious,
girlish absurdity.
"Well," he said. "It's like this. You see, in the old days they used to
make tiles in Clerkenwell, and they scooped out the clay for the tiles
in large quantities—and this is the result."
With a certain eagerness he amplified the explanation.
"I should never have thought of that," said Mrs. Arb ingenuously but
archly. "What sort of church is St. Andrew's?"
"Oh! It was built in the 'thirties and cost £4,541. Cheap! I doubt if
you'd build it to-day for twenty thousand. Supposed to hold eleven
hundred people."
"Really! But I mean, is it High or Low, or Broad?"
"I haven't the least idea," answered Mr. Earlforward. "I did go in one
day to look at the reredos to oblige a customer, but I've never been
to a service." He spoke jauntily.
"D'you know why I go to church—when I do go?" said she. "Because
it makes me feel nice. It's a great comfort, especially when it's a
foggy day and you can't see very well, and there's not too many
people. I don't mean I like sermons. No. But what I say is, if you
enjoy part of the service the least you can do is to stay it out. Don't
you agree?" She looked up at him, as it were appealing for approval.
Wonderful moments for Mr. Earlforward, and for Mrs. Arb too!
He thought to himself:
"She has a vigorous mind. Not one woman in a hundred would have
said that. And so petite and smart too. It doesn't really matter about
her being only a confectioner."
 X
RICEYMAN SQUARE
St. Andrew's Church, of yellow bricks with freestone dressings, a
blue slate roof, and a red coping, was designed and erected in the
brilliant reign of William IV, whose Government, under Lord Grey,
had a pious habit, since lost by governments, of building additional
churches in populous parishes at its own expense. Unfortunately its
taste in architecture was less laudable than its practical interest in
the inculcation among the lowly of the Christian doctrine about the
wisdom and propriety of turning the other cheek. St. Andrew's, of a
considerably mixed Gothic character, had architecturally nothing
whatever to recommend it. Its general proportions, its arched
windows, its mullions, its finials, its crosses, its spire, and its
buttresses, were all and in every detail utterly silly and offensive.
The eye could not rest anywhere upon its surface without pain. And
time, which is supposed to soften and dignify all things, had been
content in malice to cover St. Andrew's with filth and ridicule. Out of
the heights of the ignoble temple came persistent, monotonous, loud
sounds, fantastic and nerve-racking, to match its architecture. The
churchyard was a garden flanked by iron rails and by plane trees,
upon which brutal, terrifying surgical operations had been
performed. In the garden were to be seen the withering and
melancholy but still beautiful blossoms of asters and tulips, a
quantity of cultivated vegetables, dishevelled grass, some heaps of
rubble, and patches of unproductive brown earth. Nobody might
walk in the garden, whose gates were most securely padlocked.
Riceyman Square had been built round St. Andrew's in the hungry
'forties. It had been built all at once, according to plan; it had form.
The three-story houses (with areas and basements) were all alike,
and were grouped together in sections by triangular pediments with
ornamentations thereon in a degenerate Regency style. These
pediments and the window-facings, and the whole walls up to the
beginning of the first floor were stuccoed and painted. In many
places the paint was peeling off and the stucco crumbling. The
fronts of the doorsteps were green with vegetable growth. Some of
the front-doors and window-frames could not have been painted for
fifteen or twenty years. All the horizontal lines in the architecture
had become curved. Long cracks showed in the brickwork where two
dwellings met. The fanlights and some of the iron work feebly
recalled the traditions of the eighteenth century. The areas, except
one or two, were obscene. The Square had once been genteel; it
ought now to have been picturesque, but was not. It was merely
decrepit, foul and slatternly. It had no attractiveness of any sort.
Evolution had swirled round it, missed it, and left it. Neither
electricity nor telephones had ever invaded it, and scores of windows
still had Venetian blinds. All men except its inhabitants and the tax-
collector, the rate-collector, and the school attendance officer had
forgotten Riceyman Square.
It lay now frowsily supine in a needed Sunday indolence after the
week's hard labour. All the upper windows were shut and curtained,
and most of the ground-floor windows. The rare glimpses of forlorn
interiors were desolating. Not a child played in the roadways. But
here and there a housewife had hung her doormats and canaries on
the railings to take the holy Sabbath air; and newspapers, fresh as
newly gathered fruit, waited folded on doorsteps for students of
crime and passion to awake from their beds in darkened and stifling
rooms. Also little milk-cans with tarnished brass handles had been
suspended in clusters on the railings. Cats only, in their elegance and
their detached disdain, rose superior to the terrific environment. The
determined church bells ceaselessly jangled.
"The church is rather nice," said Mrs. Arb. "But what did I tell you
about the Square?"
"Wait a moment! Wait a moment," replied Mr. Earlforward. "Let us
walk round, shall we?"
They began to walk round. Presently Mr. Earlforward stopped in front
of a house which had just been painted, to remind the spectator of
the original gentility of the hungry 'forties.
"No broken panes there, I think," he remarked triumphantly.
Mrs. Arb's glance searched the façade for even a cracked pane, and
found none. She owed him a shilling.
"Well," she said, somewhat dashed, but still briskly. "Of course there
was bound to be one house that was all right. Don't they say it's the
exception proves the rule?"
He understood that he would not receive his shilling, and he admired
her the more for her genial feminine unscrupulousness.
At the corner of Gilbert Street Mrs. Arb suddenly burst out laughing.
"I hadn't noticed we had any Savoys up here!" she said.
Painted over the door of the corner house were the words "Percy's
Hotel."
The house differed in no other detail from the rest of the Square.
"I wonder if they have any self-contained suites?"
Mr. Earlforward was about to furnish the history of this singular
historic survival, when they both, almost simultaneously, through a
large interstice of the curtains, noticed Elsie sitting and rocking
gently by the ground-floor window of a house near to Percy's Hotel.
Her pale face was half turned within the room, and its details
obscure in the twilight of the curtained interior; but there could be
no mistake about her identity.
"Is it here she lives?" said Mrs. Arb.
"I suppose so. I know she lives somewhere in the Square, but I
never knew the number."
The front-door of the house opened and Dr. Raste emerged, fresh,
dapper, prim, correct, busy, speeding without haste, the incarnation
of the professional. You felt that he would have emerged from
Buckingham Palace in just the same manner. To mark the Sabbath,
which his ceaseless duties forbade him to honour otherwise, he wore
a silk hat. This hat he raised on perceiving Mr. Earlforward and a
lady; and he raised also, though scarcely perceptibly, his eyebrows.
"You been to see my charwoman, doctor?" Mr. Earlforward urbanely
stopped him.
Dr. Raste hesitated a moment.
"Your charwoman? Ah, yes. I did happen to see her. Yes."
"Ah! Then she is unwell. Nothing serious, I hope?"
"No, no!" said the doctor, his voice rather higher than usual. "She'll
be all right to-morrow. A mere nothing. An excellent constitution, I
should imagine."
A strictly formal reply, if very courteous. Probably nobody in
Clerkenwell, except perhaps his man Joe, knew how Dr. Raste talked
and looked when he was not talking and looking professionally. Dr.
Raste would sometimes say with a dry, brief laugh, "we medicoes,"
thereby proclaiming a caste, an order, a clan, separated by awful,
invisible, impregnable barriers from the common remainder of
mankind; and he never stepped beyond the barriers into humanity.
In his case the secret life of the brain was indeed secret, and the
mask of the face, tongue and demeanour made an everlasting
privacy. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, yes.... By the way, I've been reading that Shakspere. Very fine,
very fine. I shall read it all one of these days. Good morning." He
raised his hat again and departed.
"I shall go in and see her, poor thing!" said Mrs. Arb with
compassion.
"Shall you?"
"Well, I'm here. I think it would be nice if I did, don't you?"
"Oh, yes," Mr. Earlforward admiringly agreed.
 XI
ELSIE'S HOME
The house which Mrs. Arb decided to enter had a full, but not an
extraordinary, share of experience of human life. There were three
floors of it. On the ground floor lived a meat-salesman, his wife and
three children, the eldest of whom was five years of age. Three
rooms and some minute appurtenances on this floor. The meat-
salesman shouted and bawled cheap bits of meat in an open-fronted
shop in Exmouth Street during a sixty-hour week which ended at
midnight on Saturday. He possessed enormous vocal power. All the
children out of naughtiness had rickets. On the first floor lived a
french-polisher, his wife and two children, the eldest of whom was
three years of age. One child less than the ground-floor family, but
the first floor was about to get level in numbers. Three rooms and
some minute appurtenances on this floor. The french-polisher
worked only forty-four hours a week. His fingers wore always the
colour of rosewood, and he emitted an odour which often competed
not unsuccessfully with the characteristic house odour of stale
soapsuds. Out of ill-will for mankind he had an everlasting cough.
On the second floor lived a middle-aged dressmaker, alone. Three
rooms and some minute appurtenances on this floor. Nobody but an
occasional customer was ever allowed access to the second floor.
Elsie was a friend of the french-polisher's wife, and she slept in the
infinitesimal back-room of the first floor with the elder child of the
family. She paid three shillings a week for this accommodation, and
also helped with the charing and the laundry work of the floor—in
her spare time.
Except Elsie, the adult inhabitants of the house were always
unhappy save when drinking alcohol or making love. Although they
had studied Holy Scripture in youth, and there were at least three
Bibles in the house, they had failed to cultivate the virtue of
Christian resignation. They permitted trifles to annoy them. On the
previous day the wife of the meat-salesman had been upset because
her "copper" leaked, and because she could never for a moment be
free of her own children, and because it was rather difficult to turn
her perambulator through the kitchen doorway into an entrance-hall
three feet wide, and because she had to take all three children with
her to market, and because the eldest child, cleanly clad, had fallen
into a puddle and done as much damage to her clothes as would
take a whole day to put right, and because another child, teething,
would persistently cry, and because the landlord of the house was
too poor to do necessary repairs, and because she could not buy a
shilling's worth of goods with sixpence, and because her payments
to the Provident Club were in arrear, and because the sunshine
made her hat look shabby, and for many other equally inadequate
reasons.
As for the french-polisher's wife, she moped and grew neurotic
because only three years ago she had been a pretty girl earning an
independent income, and because she was now about to bear
another pledge of the french-polisher's affection, and because she
felt sick and frequently was sick, and because she had no money for
approaching needs, and because she hated cooking and washing,
and because her husband spent his evenings and the purchase-
money of his children's and his wife's food at a political club whose
aim was to overthrow the structure of society, and because she
hated her husband's cough and his affection, and because she could
see no end to her misery, and because she had prophetic visions of
herself as a hag with five hundred insatiable children everlastingly in
tears for something impossible to obtain for them.
The spinster on the second floor was profoundly and bitterly
dissatisfied for the mere reason that she was a spinster; whereas the
other two women would have sold their souls to be spinsters.
The centre of irritation in the house was the entrance-hall, or lobby,
which the first floor and ground floor had to keep clean in alternate
weekly spells. On the previous day one of the first-floor children had
dragged treacly fingers along the dark yellowish-brown wall. Further,
the first-floor perambulator had been brought in with muddy wheels,
and the marks had dried on the linoleum, which was already a
palimpsest of various unclean deposits. This perambulator was the
origin of most of the lobby trouble. The ground floor resented its
presence there, and the second floor purposely knocked it about at
every passage through the lobby; but the mistress of the first floor
obstinately objected to carrying it up and down stairs once or twice
a day.
A great three-corner quarrel had arisen on the Saturday morning
around the first-floor perambulator and the entrance-hall, and when
the french-polisher arrived home for his dinner shortly after one
o'clock he had found no dinner, but a wife-helpmeet-cook-
housekeeper-maidservant in hysterics. Very foolishly he had
immediately gone forth again with all his wages. At eleven-thirty
p.m. he had returned intoxicated and acutely dyspeptic. At a quarter
to twelve he had tried to fight Elsie. At twelve-thirty the meat-
salesman had come home to sleep, and had had to listen to a loud
sermon on the manners of the first-floor and his own wife's manners
delivered from the top of the second-floor stairs. Subsequently he
had had to listen to moans from the mistress of the first floor and
the eternal coughing of the master of the first floor.... And all about
nothing! Yet every one of the adults was well acquainted with the
admirable text which exhorted Christians to bear one another's
burdens. A strange houseful! But there were some scores of such
housefuls in Riceyman Square, and a £4,500 church in the midst.
Sunday morning always saw the adults of Elsie's household in a
paradisaical coma. Elsie alone was afoot. On this particular Sunday
morning she kept an eye on the two elder children, who were
playing quietly in the murky autumnal darkness of the walled
backyard. Elsie had herself summarily dressed them. The other three
children had been doped—or, as the advertisements phrased it,
"soothed"—so that while remaining in their beds they should not
disturb the adults. The adults slept. They embraced sleep
passionately, voraciously, voluptuously. Their sole desire in those
hours was to find perfect unconsciousness and rest. If they turned
over they snatched again with terrible greed at sleep. They wanted it
more than love and more than beer. They would have committed
crimes for it. Even the prospective mother slept, in a confusion of
strange dreams.
There was a loud, heavy knocking on the warped and shabby door
of the house of repose. It shook the house. The children in the yard,
thunderstruck by the outrage, stopped playing. Elsie ran in alarm
through the back passage and the lobby and opened the front-door.
Joe stood there, the worried, mad look, which Elsie knew so well, on
his homely face. She was frightened, but held herself together, and
shook her head sadly and decisively. As a result of the episode of the
carving-knife she had banished him from her presence for one week,
which had yet by no means expired. It seemed odd that Elsie,
everybody's slave, should exercise an autocratic dominion over Joe;
but she did. She knew her power and divined that she must use it, if
Joe was ever to get well of his mysterious mental malady. And now,
though she wished that she had sentenced him to only three days'
banishment instead of seven, she would not yield and correct her
error, for she felt that to do so would impair her authority.
Moreover, Joe had no right to molest her at home. She had her
reputation to think of, and her reputation, in her loyal and ingenuous
mind, was his reputation also. Therefore, with woe in her heart she
began to close the door on Joe. Joe, rendered savage by a misery
which he could not define, put his foot in the aperture and then
forced the door backwards and lunged his desecrating body inside
the sacred Sunday morning temple of sleep. (A repetition of his
procedure of the previous Thursday night.) The two stood close
together. He could not meet her fixed gaze. His eyes glanced
restlessly and wildly round, at the foul walls, the gritty and soiled
floor.
"Get out of this, my boy."
"Let me kiss you," he demanded harshly.
"Get out of it."
Losing what little remained of his self-control, he hit Elsie a strong
blow on the shoulder. She was not ready for it. In the idiom of the
ring her "foot-work" was bad, and she lost her balance, falling
against the french-polisher's perambulator, which crashed violently
into the stairs like an engine into a stationary buffer. Elsie's head
caught the wheel of the perambulator. A great shrill scream arose;
the children had followed Elsie out of the yard and witnessed the fall
of their beloved slave. Joe, appalled at the consequences of his
passion, ran off, banging the door behind him with a concussion
which shook the house afresh and still more awakeningly. Two
mothers recognized the howls of their children. The spinster on the
second floor saw a magnificent opportunity for preaching from a
point of vantage her views on the state of modern society. Two
fathers, desperate with exasperation, but drawn by the mighty
attraction of a good row, jumped murderous from their warm and
fetid beds. Two half-clad figures appeared in the doorways of the
ground-floor rooms and three on the stairs.
Elsie sat up, dazed, and then stood up, then sank limply down again.
One mother smacked her child and a child which was not hers. The
other mother protested furiously from the stairs. The paradise of
Sunday morning lay shattered. The meat-salesman had sense, heart,
and initiative. He took charge of Elsie. The hellish din died down. A
few minutes later Elsie was seated in the rocking-chair by the
window in his front room. She wept apologetically. Little was said,
but all understood that Elsie's fantastic sweetheart had behaved
disgracefully, and all indicated their settled opinion that if she kept
on with him he would murder her one of these days. Three-quarters
of an hour later Dr. Raste calmly arrived. Joe had run to the surgery
and shouted at him: "I've killed her, sir." The meat-salesman, having
himself lighted a bit of a fire, left the room while the doctor
examined the victim. The doctor could find nothing but one bruise
on the front of Elsie's left shoulder. With a splendid gesture of
devotion the meat-salesman's wife gave her second child's warm
milk to the reluctant Elsie. There happened to be no other stimulant
in the house. Peace was reestablished, and even slumber resumed.
 XII
THE BENEFACTRESS
The front door was opened to Mrs. Arb's quiet knock by the oldest
child in the house, an obstreperous boy of five, who was suddenly
struck sheepish and mute by the impressive lady on the doorstep.
He said nothing at all in reply to Mrs. Arb's request to see Elsie, but
sidled backwards along-the lobby and opened a door, looking up at
her with the most crude curiosity. As soon as she had gone into the
room and the inhibition was lifted, he ran off to the yard raising his
heels high and laughing boisterously.
The room in which Elsie had been installed was crowded and
overcrowded with the possessions of the meat-salesman and his
wife. The walls were covered from cornice to near the floor with
coloured supplements from Christmas numbers, either in maple-
wood frames or unframed; a wonderful exhibition of kindly
sentiment: the innocence of children, the purity of lovers, the
cohesion of families, the benevolence of old age, immense meals
served in interiors of old oak, landscapes where snow lay in eternal
whiteness on church steeples, angels, monks, blacksmiths, coach-
drivers, souls awakening: indeed, a vast and successful effort to
convince the inhabitants of Riceyman Square that Riceyman Square
was not the only place on earth. The display undoubtedly unbent,
diverted, and cheered the mind. In between the chromatic prints
were grey, realistic photographs of people who really existed or had
existed. The mantelpiece was laden with ornaments miscalled
"china," standing on bits of embroidery. The floor was covered with
oddments of carpet. There were many chairs, unassorted; there was
a sofa; there was a cradle; there was a sewing-machine; there was a
clothes-horse, on which a man's blue apron with horizontal white
stripes was spread out. There were several tables, including a small
walnut octagonal table, once a lady's work-table, which stood in the
window and upon which a number of cloth-bound volumes of Once a
Week were piled carefully, corkscrew-wise. And there was a
wardrobe, also a number of kitchen utensils. The place was
encumbered with goods, all grimy as the walls and ceilings, many of
them cracked and worn like the woodwork and paint, but proving
triumphantly that the meat-salesman had no commerce with
pawnbrokers.
"I thought I should like to come round and see how you are, Elsie,"
said Mrs. Arb kindly and forgivingly. "No, don't get up. I can see you
aren't well. I'll sit here."
Elsie blushed deeply.
"I've had a bit of trouble, 'm," she apologetically murmured.
Elsie's trouble was entirely due to Mrs. Arb's demand for overtime
from her on Thursday night. Mrs. Arb had not considered the
convenience nor the private life of this young woman whose services
made daily existence tolerable for her and for Mr. Earlforward. The
young woman had consequently found herself in a situation of the
gravest difficulty and of some danger. Hence the young woman was
apologetic and Mrs. Arb forgiving. Elsie admitted to herself a clear
failure of duty with its sequel of domestic embarrassment for her
employers, and she dismissed as negligible the excuses which she
might have offered. Nor did she dream of criticizing Mrs. Arb. She
never consciously criticized anyone but Elsie. And yet somewhere in
the unexplored arcana of her mind lay hidden a very just estimate of
Mrs. Arb. Strange! No, not strange! A quite common phenomenon in
the minds of the humble and conscientious!
"Was the trouble over that young man?" asked Mrs. Arb. "Not that I
want to be inquisitive!"
Elsie began to cry. She nodded, unable for the moment to speak.
The sound of a snore came through the wall from the next room.
There were muffled noises overhead. Mrs. Arb grew aware that a
child had peeped in upon her and Elsie. The church bells, after a few
single notes, ceased to ring.
"I suppose you couldn't have sent somebody across to tell me you
weren't coming?" Mrs. Arb suggested. Elsie shook her head. "Shall
you come to-morrow?"
"Oh, yes, 'm. I shall come to-morrow—and punctual."
"Well, Elsie, don't think I'm interfering, but don't you think you'd
better give him up? Two upsets in three days, you know." (Four days
Mrs. Arb ought to have said; but in these details she took the licence
of an artist.) "I haven't said a word to you about Thursday night,
have I? I didn't want to worry you. I knew you'd had worry enough.
But I don't mind telling you now that I was very much upset and
frightened, as who wouldn't be!... What do you want with men?
They'll never be any good to you—that is, if you value a quiet life
and a good name. I'm telling you for your own sake. I like you, and
I'd like you to be happy and respectable." Mrs. Arb seemed to have
forgotten that she was addressing a widow and not a young girl.
"Oh, 'm. I'm giving him up. I'll never have anything to do with him
again. Never!" Elsie burst out, with intense tragedy in her soul.
"That's right! I'm glad to hear it," said Mrs. Arb with placidity. "And if
you really mean it the people that employ you will be able to trust
and rely on you again. It's the only way."
"Oh, I'm so ashamed, 'm!" said Elsie, with the puckered brow of
conscientiousness. "'Specially seeing I couldn't let you know. Nor Mr.
Earlforward, either! But it won't occur again, 'm, and I hope you'll
forgive me."
"Please, please!" Mrs. Arb exclaimed magnanimously, protesting
against this excess of remorse and penitence. "I only thought I'd call
to inquire." After Mrs. Arb had gone out to dally with a man and to
reassure him with the news that everything would be all right and
they had nothing to fear, the boy crept into the front-room with a
piece of bread and jam in his sticky hand. He silently offered the
morsel to Elsie, who leaned forward as he held it up to her and bit
off a corner to please him. She smiled at him; then broke into a sob,
and choked and clutched him violently, bread and jam and all, and
there was a dreadful mess.
 XIII
THE PASSION
"I think I've put her straight," said Mrs. Arb very cheerfully to Mr.
Earlforward, out in the Square, and gave him an account of the
interview.
Mr. Earlforward's mind was much relieved. He admired Mrs. Arb
greatly in that moment. He himself could never have put Elsie
straight. There were things that a woman, especially a capable and
forceful woman, could do which no man could possibly do.
"Forceful"! Perhaps a sinister adjective to attach to a woman. Yes.
But the curious point about this woman was that she was also
feminine. Forceful, she could yet (speaking metaphorically) cling and
look up. And also she could look down in a most enchanting and
disturbing way. She had done it a number of times to Mr.
Earlforward. Now Mr. Earlforward, from the plenitude of his
inexperience of women, knew them deeply. He knew their
characteristic defects and shortcomings. And it seemed to him that
Mrs. Arb was remarkably free from such. It seemed to him, as it has
seemed to millions of men, that he had had the luck to encounter a
woman who miraculously combined the qualities of two sexes, and
the talent to recognize the miracle on sight. He would not go so far
as to assert that Mrs. Arb was unique (though he strongly suspected
that she must be), but there could not be many Mrs. Arbs on earth.
He was very happy in youthful dreams of a new and idyllic existence.
His sole immediate fear was that he would be compelled to go to
church with her. He knew them; they were queer on religious
observances. Of course it was because, as she had half admitted,
they liked to feel devotional. But you could do nothing with a woman
in church. And he could not leave her to go to church alone.... He
was unhappy.
"I'm afraid that service of yours has begun," said he. "I saw quite a
number of people going in while you were talking to Elsie."
"I'm afraid it has," she replied. He saw a glint of hope.
"It's a nice fresh morning," said he daringly. "And what people like
you and me need is fresh air. I suppose you wouldn't care for me to
show you some bits of Clerkenwell?"
"I think I should," said she. "I could go to service to-night, couldn't
I?"
Triumph! Undoubtedly she was unique.
Both quite forgetting once more that they would never again see
forty, they set off with the innocent ardour of youth.
"You know," said Mrs. Arb, returning to the great subject, "I told her
plainly she'd be much better off if she kept off men. And so she
will!"
"They never know when they are well off," said Mr. Earlforward.
"No ... I expect this Square used to belong to your family," Mrs. Arb
remarked with deference.
"Oh! I shouldn't say that," answered Mr. Earlforward modestly. "But
it was named after my grandfather's brother."
"It must have been very nice when it was new," said Mrs. Arb,
tactfully adopting towards the Square a more respectful attitude
than aforetime. Clearly she desired to please. Clearly she had a kind
heart. "But when the working-class get a hold on a place, what are
you to do?"
"You'd scarcely think it," said Mr. Earlforward with grim resignation,
"but this district was very fashionable once. There used to be an
archery ground where our steps are." (He enjoyed saying "our
steps," the phrase united him to her.)
"Really!"
"Yes. And at one time the Duke of Newcastle lived just close by.
Look here. I'll show you something. It's quite near."
In a few minutes they were at the corner of a vast square—you
could have put four Riceymans into it—of lofty reddish houses,
sombre and shabby, with a great railed garden and great trees in the
middle, and a wide roadway round. With all its solidity, in that
neighbourhood it seemed to have the unreal quality of a vision, a
creation of some djinn, formed in an instant and destined as quickly
to dissolve; it seemed to have no business where it was.
"Look at that!" said Mr. Earlforward eagerly, pointing to the sign,
"Wilmington Square." "Ever heard of it before?"
Mrs. Arb shook her astonished head.
"No. And nobody has. But it's here. That's London, that is! Practically
every house has been divided up into tenements. Used to be very
well-to-do people here, you know!"
Mrs. Arb gazed at him sadly.
"It's tragic!" she said sympathetically, her bright face troubled.
"She understands!" he thought.
"Now I'll show you another sort of a square," he went on aloud. "But
it's over on the other side of Farringdon Road. Not far! Not far! No
distances here!"
He limped quickly along.
Coldbath Square easily surpassed even Riceyman Square in squalor
and foulness; and it was far more picturesque and deeper sunk in
antiquity, save for the huge, awful block of tenements in the middle.
The glimpses of interiors were appalling. At the corners stood
sinister groups of young men, mysteriously well dressed, doing
nothing whatever, and in certain doorways honest-faced old men
with mufflers round their necks and wearing ancient pea-jackets.
"I don't like this at all," said Mrs. Arb, as it were sensitively
shrinking.
"No! This is a bit too much, isn't it? Let's go on to the Priory
Church."
"Yes. That will be better," Mrs. Arb agreed with relief at the prospect
of a Priory Church.
"Oh! There's a News of the World!" she exclaimed. "Now I wonder
——"
They were passing through a narrow, very short alley of small
houses which closed the vista of one of the towering congeries of
modern tenement-blocks abounding in the region. The alley,
christened a hundred years earlier, "Model Cottages," was silent and
deserted, in strange contrast to the gigantic though half-hidden
swarming of the granite tenements. The front-doors abutted on the
alley without even the transition of a raised step. The News of the
World lay at one of the front-doors. It must have been there for
hours, waiting for its subscriber to awake, and secure in the
marvellous integrity of the London public.
"I did want just to look at a News of the World," said Mrs. Arb,
stopping.
They had seen various newsvendors in the streets; in fact,
newspapers were apparently the only articles of commerce at that
hour of the Sunday morning; but she had no desire to buy a paper.
Glancing round fearfully at windows, she stooped and picked up the
folded News of the World. Mr. Earlforward admired her, but was
apprehensive.