e famous
Workmen's Club of North R----. It had been started by a former Liberal
clergyman of the parish, whose main object however, had been to train
the workmen to manage it for themselves. His training had been, in fact
too successful. Not only was it now wholly managed by artisans, but it
had come to be a centre of active, nay, brutal, opposition to the Church
and faith which had originally fostered it. In organic connection with
it was a large debating hall, in which the most notorious secularist
lecturers held forth every Sunday evening; and next door to it, under
its shadow and patronage, was a little dingy shop filled to overflowing
with the coarsest freethinking publications, Colonel Ingersoll's books
occupying the place of honor in the window and the 'Freethinker' placard
flaunting at the door. Inside there was still more highly seasoned
literature even than the 'Freethinker' to be had. There was in
particular a small half-penny paper which was understood to be in some
sense the special organ of the North R---- Club; which was at any rate
published close by, and edited by one of the workmen founders of the
club. This unsavory sheet began to be more and more defiantly advertised
through the parish as Lent drew on toward Passion week, and the
exertions of St. Wilfrid's and of the other churches, which were being
spurred on by the Ritualists' success, became more apparent. Soon it
seemed to Robert that every bit of boarding and every waste wall was
filled with the announcement:--

'Read "Faith and Fools." Enormous success. Our "Comic Life of Christ"
now nearly completed. Quite the best thing of its kind going. Woodcut
this week--Transfiguration.'

His heart grew fierce within him. One night in Passion week he left the
night school about ten o'clock. His way led him past the club, which was
brilliantly lit up, and evidently in full activity. Round the door there
was a knot of workmen lounging. It was a mild moonlit April night, and
the air was pleasant. Several of them had copies of 'Faith and Fools,'
and were showing the week's woodcut to those about them, with chuckles
and spurts of laughter.

Robert caught a few words as he hurried past them, and stirred by a
sudden impulse turned into the shop beyond, And asked for the paper.
The woman handed it to him, and gave him his change with a business-like
_sang-froid_, which struck on his tired nerves almost more painfully
then the laughing brutality of the men he h