Eight days have passed, and the scene is a London Police Court at one o'clock.A canopied seat of Justice is surmounted by the lion and unicorn.Before the fire a worn-looking MAGISTRATE is warming his coat-tails, and staring at two little girls in faded blue and orange rags, who are placed before the dock.Close to the witness-box is a RELIEVING OFFICER in an overcoat, and a short brown beard.Beside the little girls stands a bald POLICE CONSTABLE.On the front bench are sitting BARTHWICK and ROPER, and behind them JACK.In the railed enclosure are seedy-looking men and women.Some prosperous constables sit or stand about.
MAGISTRATE.[In his paternal and ferocious voice, hissing his s's.]
Now let us dispose of these young ladies.
USHER.Theresa Livens, Maud Livens.
[The bald CONSTABLE indicates the little girls, who remain silent, disillusioned, inattentive.]
Relieving Officer!
[The RELIEVING OFFICER Steps into the witness-box.]
USHER.The evidence you give to the Court shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God! Kiss the book!
[The book is kissed.]
RELIEVING OFFICER.[In a monotone, pausing slightly at each sentence end, that his evidence may be inscribed.] About ten o'clock this morning, your Worship, I found these two little girls in Blue Street, Fulham, crying outside a public-house.Asked where their home was, they said they had no home.Mother had gone away.
Asked about their father.Their father had no work.Asked where they slept last night.At their aunt's.I 've made inquiries, your Worship.The wife has broken up the home and gone on the streets.
The husband is out of work and living in common lodging-houses.The husband's sister has eight children of her own, and says she can't afford to keep these little girls any longer.
MAGISTRATE.[Returning to his seat beneath the canopy of justice.]
Now, let me see.You say the mother is on the streets; what evidence have you of that?
RELIEVING OFFICER.I have the husband here, your Worship.
MAGISTRATE.Very well; then let us see him.
[There are cries of "LIVENS." The MAGISTRATE leans forward, and stares with hard compassion at the little girls.LIVENScomes in.He is quiet, with grizzled hair, and a muffler for a collar.He stands beside the witness-box.]
And you, are their father? Now, why don't you keep your little girls at home.How is it you leave them to wander about the streets like this?
LIVENS.I've got no home, your Worship.I'm living from 'and to mouth.I 've got no work; and nothin' to keep them on.
MAGISTRATE.How is that?
LIVENS.[Ashamedly.] My wife, she broke my 'ome up, and pawned the things.
MAGISTRATE.But what made you let her?
LEVINS.Your Worship, I'd no chance to stop 'er, she did it when Iwas out lookin' for work.
MAGISTRATE.Did you ill-treat her?
LIVENS.[Emphatically.] I never raised my 'and to her in my life, your Worship.
MAGISTRATE.Then what was it--did she drink?
LIVENS.Yes, your Worship.
MAGISTRATE.Was she loose in her behaviour?
LIVENS.[In a low voice.] Yes, your Worship.
MAGISTRATE.And where is she now?
LIVENS.I don't know your Worship.She went off with a man, and after that I----MAGISTRATE.Yes, yes.Who knows anything of her? [To the bald CONSTABLE.] Is she known here?
RELIEVING OFFICER.Not in this district, your Worship; but I have ascertained that she is well known----MAGISTRATE.Yes--yes; we'll stop at that.Now [To the Father] you say that she has broken up your home, and left these little girls.
What provision can you make for them? You look a strong man.
LIVENS.So I am, your Worship.I'm willin' enough to work, but for the life of me I can't get anything to do.
MAGISTRATE.But have you tried?
LIVENS.I've tried everything, your Worship--I 've tried my 'ardest.
MAGISTRATE.Well, well----[There is a silence.]
RELIEVING OFFICER.If your Worship thinks it's a case, my people are willing to take them.
MAGISTRATE.Yes, yes, I know; but I've no evidence that this man is not the proper guardian for his children.
[He rises oval goes back to the fire.]
RELIEVING OFFICER.The mother, your Worship, is able to get access to them.
MAGISTRATE.Yes, yes; the mother, of course, is an improper person to have anything to do with them.[To the Father.] Well, now what do you say?
LIVENS.Your Worship, I can only say that if I could get work Ishould be only too willing to provide for them.But what can I do, your Worship? Here I am obliged to live from 'and to mouth in these 'ere common lodging-houses.I 'm a strong man--I'm willing to work --I'm half as alive again as some of 'em--but you see, your Worship, my 'airs' turned a bit, owing to the fever--[Touches his hair]--and that's against me; and I don't seem to get a chance anyhow.
MAGISTRATE.Yes-yes.[Slowly.] Well, I think it 's a case.
[Staring his hardest at the little girls.] Now, are you willing that these little girls should be sent to a home.
LIVENS.Yes, your Worship, I should be very willing.
MAGISTRATE.Well, I'll remand them for a week.Bring them again to-day week; if I see no reason against it then, I 'll make an order.
RELIEVING OFFICER.To-day week, your Worship.
[The bald CONSTABLE takes the little girls out by the shoulders.The father follows them.The MAGISTRATE, returning to his seat, bends over and talks to his CLERK inaudibly.]
BARTHWICK.[Speaking behind his hand.] A painful case, Roper; very distressing state of things.
ROPER.Hundreds like this in the Police Courts.
BARTHWICK.Most distressing! The more I see of it, the more important this question of the condition of the people seems to become.I shall certainly make a point of taking up the cudgels in the House.I shall move----[The MAGISTRATE ceases talking to his CLERK.]
CLERK.Remands!
[BARTHWICK stops abruptly.There is a stir and MRS.JONEScomes in by the public door; JONES, ushered by policemen, comes from the prisoner's door.They file into the dock.]
CLERK.James Jones, Jane Jones.
USHER.Jane Jones!