Тридцять дев’ять ступенів

           Everynowandthenherememberedaphrasehehadlearnedbyheart,straightenedhisback,andgaveitofflikeHenryIrving,andthenextmomenthewasbentdoubleandcrooningoverhispapers.Itwasthemostappallingrot,too.Hetalkedaboutthe“Germanmenace”,andsaiditwasallaToryinventiontocheatthepooroftheirrightsandkeepbackthegreatfloodofsocialreform,butthat“organizedlabour”realizedthisandlaughedtheToriestoscorn.HewasallforreducingourNavyasaproofofourgoodfaith,andthensendingGermanyanultimatumtellinghertodothesameorwewouldknockherintoacockedhat.Hesaidthat,butfortheTories,GermanyandBritainwouldbefellow-workersinpeaceandreform.Ithoughtofthelittleblackbookinmypocket!AgiddylotScudder’sfriendscaredforpeaceandreform.

           YetinaqueerwayIlikedthespeech.Youcouldseethenicenessofthechapshiningoutbehindthemuckwithwhichhehadbeenspoon-fed.Alsoittookaloadoffmymind.Imightn’tbemuchofanorator,butIwasathousandpercentbetterthanSirHarry.

           Ididn’tgetonsobadlywhenitcametomyturn.IsimplytoldthemallIcouldrememberaboutAustralia,prayingthereshouldbenoAustralianthere—allaboutitslabourpartyandemigrationanduniversalservice.IdoubtifIrememberedtomentionFreeTrade,butIsaidtherewerenoToriesinAustralia,onlyLabourandLiberals.