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an absolute palace of comfort。But；' he added； checking himself； as
it were； 'I do not see in the least how your proposal would
facilitate an answer to your question。'
'You seem hardly inclined to do me justice；' said Lady Georgina；
with； for the first time； a perceptible； though slight shadow
crossing the disc of her resolution。 'I only meant it；' she went on；
'as a step towards a further proposal； which I think you will allow
looks at least in the direction you have been indicating。'
She paused。
'May I beg of you to state the proposal？' said Falconer。
But Lady Georgina was apparently in some little difficulty as to the
proper form in which to express her object。 At last it appeared in
the cloak of a question。
'Do you require no assistance in your efforts for the elevation of
the lower classes？' she asked。
'I don't make any such efforts；' said Falconer。
Some of my lady…readers will probably be remarking to themselves；
'How disagreeable of him！ I can't endure the man。' If they knew
how Falconer had to beware of the forwardness and annoyance of
well…meaning women； they would not dislike him so much。 But
Falconer could be indifferent to much dislike； and therein I know
some men that envy him。
When he saw； however； that Lady Georgina was trying to swallow a
lump in her throat； he hastened to add；
'I have only relations with individualsnone with classes。'
Lady Georgina gathered her failing courage。 'Then there is the more
hope for me；' she said。 'Surely there are things a woman might be
useful in that a man cannot do so wellespecially if she would do
as she was told； Mr。 Falconer？'
He looked at her； inquiring of her whole person what numen abode in
the fane。 She misunderstood the look。
'I could dress very differently； you know。 I will be a sister of
charity； if you like。'
'And wear a uniform？as if the god of another world wanted to make
proselytes or traitors in this！ No； Lady Georgina； it was not of a
dress so easily altered that I was thinking； it was of the habit；
the dress of mind； of thought； of feeling。 When you laid aside your
beautiful dress； could you avoid putting on the garment of
condescension； the most unchristian virtue attributed to Deity or
saint？ Could youI must be plain with you； Lady Georgina； for this
has nothing to do with the forms of so…called societycould your
temper endure the mortifications of low opposition and
misrepresentation of motive and endwhich； avoid intrusion as you
might； would yet force themselves on your perception？ Could you be
rudely； impudently thwarted by the very persons for whom you were
spending your strength and means； and show no resentment？ Could you
make allowances for them as for your own brothers and sisters； your
own children？'
Lady Georgina was silent。
'I shall seem to glorify myself； but at that risk I must put the
reality before you。Could you endure the ugliness both moral and
physical which you must meet at every turn？ Could you look upon
loathsomeness； not merely without turning away in disgust； and thus
wounding the very heart you would heal； but without losing your
belief in the Fatherhood of God； by losing your faith in the actual
blood…relationship to yourself of these wretched beings？ Could you
believe in the immortal essence hidden under all this garbageGod
at the root of it all？ How would the delicate senses you probably
inherit receive the intrusions from which they could not protect
themselves？ Would you be in no danger of finding personal refuge in
the horrid fancy； that these are but the slimy borders of humanity
where it slides into； and is one with bestiality？ I could show you
one fearful baboon…like woman； whose very face makes my nerves
shudder： could you believe that woman might one day become a lady；
beautiful as yourself； and therefore minister to her？ Would you not
be tempted； for the sake of your own comfort； if not for the pride
of your own humanity； to believe that； like untimely blossoms； these
must fall from off the boughs of the tree of life； and come to
nothing at alla theory that may do for the preacher； but will not
do for the worker： him it would paralyze？or； still worse；
infinitely worse； that they were doomed； from their birth； to
endless ages of a damnation； filthy as that in which you now found
them； and must probably leave them？ If you could come to this； you
had better withhold your hand； for no desire for the betterment of
the masses； as they are stupidly called； can make up for a lack of
faith in the individual。 If you cannot hope for them in your heart；
your hands cannot reach them to do them good。 They will only hurt
them。'
Lady Georgina was still silent。 Falconer's eloquence had perhaps
made her ashamed。
'I want you to sit down and count the cost； before you do any
mischief by beginning what you are unfit for。 Last week I was
compelled more than once to leave the house where my duty led me；
and to sit down upon a stone in the street； so ill that I was in
danger of being led away as intoxicated； only the policeman happened
to know me。 Twice I went back to the room I had left； crowded with
human animals； and one of them at least dying。 It was all I could
do； and I have tolerable nerve and tolerable experience。'
A mist was gathering over Lady Georgina's eyes。 She confessed it
afterwards to Miss St。 John。 And through the mist he looked larger
than human。
'And then the time you must spend before you can lay hold upon them
at all； that is with the personal relation which alone is of any
real influence！ Our Saviour himself had to be thirty years in the
world before he had footing enough in it to justify him in beginning
to teach publicly： he had been laying the needful foundations all
the time。 Not under any circumstances could I consent to make use
of you before you had brought yourself into genuine relations with
some of them first。'
'Do you count societies； then； of no use whatever？' Lady Georgina
asked； more to break the awkwardness of her prolonged silence than
for any other reason。
'In as far as any of the persons they employ fulfil the conditions
of which I have spoken； they are usefulthat is； just in as far as
they come into genuine human relations with those whom they would
help。 In as far as their servants are incapable of this； the
societies are hurtful。 The chief good which societies might effect
would be the procuring of simple justice for the poor。 That is what
they need at the hands of the nation； and what they do not receive。
But though few can have the knowledge of the poor I have； many
could do something； if they would only set about it simply； and not
be too anxious to convert them； if they would only be their friends
after a common…sense fashion。 I know； say； a hundred wretched men
and women far better than a man in general knows him with whom he
claims an ordinary intimacy。 I know many more by sight whose names
in the natural course of events I shall probably know soon。 I know
many of their relations to each other； and they talk about each
other to me as if I were one of themselves； which I hope in God I
am。 I have been amongst them a good many years now； and shall
probably spend my life amongst them。 When I went first； I was
repeatedly robbed； now I should hardly fear to carry another man's
property。 Two years ago I had my purse taken； but next morning it
was returned； I do not know by whom： in fact it was put into my
pocket againevery coin； as far as I could judge； as it left me。 I
seldom pretend to teach themonly now and then drop a word of
advice。 But possibly； before I die； I may speak to them in public。
At present I avoid all attempt at organization of any sort； and as
far as I see； am likely of all things to avoid it。 What I want is
first to be their friend； and then to be at length recognized as
such。 It is only in rare cases that I seek the acquaintance of any
of them： I let it come naturally。 I bide my time。 Almost never do
I offer assistance。 I wait till they ask it； and then often refuse
the sort they want。 The worst thing you can do for them is to
attempt to save them from the natural consequences of wrong： you may
sometimes help them out of them。 But it is right to do many things
for them when you know them； which it would not be right to do for
them until you know them。 I am amongst them； they know me； their
children know me； and something is always occurring that makes this
or that one come to me。 Once I have a footing； I seldom lose it。
So you see； in this my labour I am content to do the thing that
lies next me。 I wait events。 You have had no training； no
blundering to fit you for such work。 There are many other modes of
being useful； but none in which I could undertake to direct you。 I
am not in the habit of talking so much about my waysbut that is of
no c