BREAKS UP A PEACE MEETING
While seated at breakfast on the morning after he had seen this vision, Mr.Lavender, who read his papers as though they had been Holy Writ, came on an announcement that a meeting would be held that evening at a chapel in Holloway under the auspices of the "Free Speakers' League," an association which his journals had often branded with a reputation, for desiring Peace.On reading the names of the speakers Mr.Lavender felt at once that it would be his duty to attend."There will," he thought, "very likely be no one there to register a protest.For in this country we have pushed the doctrine of free speech to a limit which threatens the noble virtue of patriotism.This is no doubt a recrudescence of that terrible horse-sense in the British people which used to permit everybody to have his say, no matter what he said.Yet I would rather stay at home," he mused "for they will do me violence, I expect; cowardice, however, would not become me, and I must go."He was in a state of flurry all day, thinking of his unpleasant duty towards those violent persons, and garbishing up his memory by reading such past leaders in his five journals as bore on the subject.He spoke no word of his intentions, convinced that he ran a considerable risk at the hands of the Pacifists, but too sensible of his honour to assist anyone to put that spoke in his wheel which he could not help longing for.
At six o'clock he locked Blink into his study, and arming himself with three leaders, set forth on his perilous adventure.Seven o'clock saw him hurrying along the dismal road to the chapel, at whose door he met with an unexpected check.
"Where is your ticket?" said a large man.