The Complete Novels Of George Orwell Part 30

NOSY WATSON: D'you know how I got in the stir the first time? Narked by my own sisteryes, my own b.l.o.o.d.y sister! My sister's a cow if ever there was one. She got married to a religious maniache's so b.l.o.o.d.y religious that she's got fifteen kids nowwell, it was him put her up to narking me. But I got back on 'em, D'you know how I got in the stir the first time? Narked by my own sisteryes, my own b.l.o.o.d.y sister! My sister's a cow if ever there was one. She got married to a religious maniache's so b.l.o.o.d.y religious that she's got fifteen kids nowwell, it was him put her up to narking me. But I got back on 'em, I I can tell you. First thing, I done when I come out of the stir, I buys a hammer and goes round to my sister's house, and smashed her piano to b.l.o.o.d.y matchwood. 'There!' I says, 'that's what you get for narking can tell you. First thing, I done when I come out of the stir, I buys a hammer and goes round to my sister's house, and smashed her piano to b.l.o.o.d.y matchwood. 'There!' I says, 'that's what you get for narking me me! You nosing mare!' I says.

DOROTHY: This cold, this cold! I don't know whether my feet are there or not. This cold, this cold! I don't know whether my feet are there or not.

MRS MCELLIGOT: b.l.o.o.d.y tea don't warm you for long, do it? I'm fair froze myself. b.l.o.o.d.y tea don't warm you for long, do it? I'm fair froze myself.

MR TALLBOYS [to himself]: [to himself]: My curate days, my curate days! My fancywork bazaars and morris-dancers in aid of on the village green, my lectures to the Mothers' Unionmissionary work in Western China with fourteen magic lantern slides! My Boys' Cricket Club, teetotallers only, my Confirmation cla.s.sespurity lecture once monthly in the Parish Hallmy Boy Scout orgies! The Wolf Cubs will deliver the Grand Howl. Household Hints for the Parish Magazine, 'Discarded fountain-pen fillers can be used as enemas for canaries....' My curate days, my curate days! My fancywork bazaars and morris-dancers in aid of on the village green, my lectures to the Mothers' Unionmissionary work in Western China with fourteen magic lantern slides! My Boys' Cricket Club, teetotallers only, my Confirmation cla.s.sespurity lecture once monthly in the Parish Hallmy Boy Scout orgies! The Wolf Cubs will deliver the Grand Howl. Household Hints for the Parish Magazine, 'Discarded fountain-pen fillers can be used as enemas for canaries....'

CHARLIE [singing]: [singing]: Jesu, lover Jesu, lover of my of my soul soul GINGER: 'Ere comes the bleeding flattie! Get up off the ground, all of you. [ 'Ere comes the bleeding flattie! Get up off the ground, all of you. [Daddy emerges from his overcoat.]

THE POLICEMAN [ [shaking the sleepers on the next bench]: Now then, wake up, wake up! Rouse up, you! Got to go home if you want to sleep. This isn't a common lodging house. Get up, there! [etc., etc.]

MRS BENDIGO: It's that nosy young sod as wants promotion. Wouldn't let you b.l.o.o.d.y breathe if 'e'ad 'is way. It's that nosy young sod as wants promotion. Wouldn't let you b.l.o.o.d.y breathe if 'e'ad 'is way.

CHARLIE [ [singing]: Jesu, lover of my my soul, soul, Let me to to Thy bosom fly Thy bosom fly THE POLICEMAN: Now then, Now then, you! you! What you think What you think this this is? Baptist prayer meeting? [ is? Baptist prayer meeting? [To the Kike] Up you get, and look sharp about it!

CHARLIE: I can't 'elp it, sergeant. It's my toonful nature. It comes out of me natural-like. I can't 'elp it, sergeant. It's my toonful nature. It comes out of me natural-like.

THE POLICEMAN [ [shaking Mrs Bendigo]: Wake up, mother, wake up!

MRS BENDIGO: Mother? Mother? Mother Mother, is it? Well, if I am a mother, thank G.o.d I ain't got a b.l.o.o.d.y son like you! And I'll tell you another little secret, constable. Next time I want a man's fat 'ands feeling round the back of my neck, I won't ask you you to do it. I'll 'ave someone with a bit more s.e.x-appeal. to do it. I'll 'ave someone with a bit more s.e.x-appeal.

THE POLICEMAN: Now then, now then! No call to get abusive, you know. We got our orders to carry out. [ Now then, now then! No call to get abusive, you know. We got our orders to carry out. [Exit majestically.]

SNOUTER [ [sotto voce]: - off, you - son of a -!

CHARLIE [ [singing]: While the gathering waters roll, While the tempest still is 'igh!

Sung ba.s.s in the choir my last two years in Dartmoor, I did.

MRS BENDIGO: I'll b.l.o.o.d.y mother 'im! [ I'll b.l.o.o.d.y mother 'im! [Shouting after the policeman]'I! Why don't you get after them b.l.o.o.d.y cat burglars 'stead of coming nosing round a respectable married woman?

GINGER: Kip down, blokes. 'E's jacked. [ Kip down, blokes. 'E's jacked. [Daddy retires within his coat.]

NOSY WATSON: Wa.s.sit like in Dartmoor now? D'they give you jam now? Wa.s.sit like in Dartmoor now? D'they give you jam now?

MRS WAYNE: Of course, you can see as they couldn't reely allow people to sleep in the streets-I mean, it wouldn't be quite niceand then you've got to remember as it'd be encouraging of all the people as haven't got homes of their ownthe kind of riff-raff, if you take my meaning.... Of course, you can see as they couldn't reely allow people to sleep in the streets-I mean, it wouldn't be quite niceand then you've got to remember as it'd be encouraging of all the people as haven't got homes of their ownthe kind of riff-raff, if you take my meaning....

MR TALLBOYS [ [to himself]: Happy days, happy days! Outings with the Girl Guides in Epping Foresthired brake and sleek roan horses, and I on the box in my grey flannel suit, speckled straw hat, and discreet layman's necktie. Buns and ginger pop under the green elms. Twenty Girl Guides pious yet susceptible frisking in the breast-high bracken, and I a happy curate sporting among them, in loco parentis in loco parentis pinching the girls' backsides.... pinching the girls' backsides....

MRS MCELLIGOT: Well, you may talk about kippin' down, but beG.o.d dere won't be much sleep for my poor ole b.l.o.o.d.y bones tonight. I can't skipper it now de way me and Michael used to. Well, you may talk about kippin' down, but beG.o.d dere won't be much sleep for my poor ole b.l.o.o.d.y bones tonight. I can't skipper it now de way me and Michael used to.

CHARLIE: Not jam. Gets cheese, though, twice a week. Not jam. Gets cheese, though, twice a week.

THE KIKE: Oh Jeez! I can't stand it no longer. I going down to the M.A.B. Oh Jeez! I can't stand it no longer. I going down to the M.A.B.

[Dorothy stands up, and then, her knees having stiffened with the cold, almost falls.]

GINGER: Only send you to the bleeding Labour Home. What you say we all go up to Covent Garden tomorrow morning? b.u.m a few pears if we get there early enough. Only send you to the bleeding Labour Home. What you say we all go up to Covent Garden tomorrow morning? b.u.m a few pears if we get there early enough.

CHARLIE: I've 'ad my peris.h.i.+ng bellyful of Dartmoor, b'lieve me. Forty on us went through 'ell for getting off with the ole women down on the allotments. Ole trots seventy years old they wa.s.spud-grabbers. Didn't we cop it just! Bread and water, chained to the wallperis.h.i.+ng near murdered us. I've 'ad my peris.h.i.+ng bellyful of Dartmoor, b'lieve me. Forty on us went through 'ell for getting off with the ole women down on the allotments. Ole trots seventy years old they wa.s.spud-grabbers. Didn't we cop it just! Bread and water, chained to the wallperis.h.i.+ng near murdered us.

MRS BENDIGO: No fear! Not while my b.l.o.o.d.y husband's there. One black eye in a week's enough for me, thank you. No fear! Not while my b.l.o.o.d.y husband's there. One black eye in a week's enough for me, thank you.

MR TALLBOYS [ [chanting, reminiscently]: As for our harps, we hanged them up, upon the willow trees of Babylon!...

MRS MCELLIGOT: Hold up, kiddie! Stamp your feet an' get de blood back into 'm. I'll take y'a walk up to Paul's in a coupla minutes. Hold up, kiddie! Stamp your feet an' get de blood back into 'm. I'll take y'a walk up to Paul's in a coupla minutes.

DEAFIE [singing]: With my w.i.l.l.y w.i.l.l.y- [Big Ben strikes eleven.]

SNOUTER: Six more - hours! Cripes! Six more - hours! Cripes!

[An hour pa.s.ses. Big Ben stops striking. The mist thins and the cold increases. A grubby-faced moon is seen sneaking among the clouds of the southern sky. A dozen hardened old men remain on the benches, and still contrive to sleep, doubled up and hidden in their greatcoats. Occasionally they groan in their sleep. The others set out in all directions, intending to walk all night and so keep their blood flowing, but nearly all of them have drifted back to the Square by midnight. A new policeman comes on duty. He strolls through the Square at intervals of half an hour, scrutinizing the faces of the sleepers but letting them alone when he has made sure that they are only asleep and not dead. Round each bench revolves a knot of people who take it in turns to sit down and are driven to their feet by the cold after a few minutes. Ginger and Charlie fill two drums at the fountains and set out in the desperate hope of boiling some tea over the navvies' clinker fire in Chandos Street; but a policeman is warming himself at the fire, and orders them away. The Kike suddenly vanishes, probably to beg a bed at the M.A.B. Towards one o'clock a rumour goes round that a lady is distributing hot coffee, ham sandwiches, and packets of cigarettes under Charing Cross Bridge; there is a rush to the spot, but the rumour turns out to be unfounded. As the Square fills again the ceaseless changing of places upon the benches quickens until it is a game of musical chairs. Sitting down, with one's hands under one's armpits, it is possible to get into a kind of sleep, or doze, for two or three minutes on end. In this state, enormous ages seem to pa.s.s. One sinks into a complex, troubling dreams which leave one conscious of one's surroundings and of the bitter cold. The night is growing clearer and colder every minute. There is a chorus of varying soundgroans, curses, bursts of laughter, and singing, and through them all the uncontrollable chattering of teeth.]

MR TALLBOYS [ [chanting]: I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint!...

MRS MCELLIGOT: Ellen an' me bin wanderin' round de City dis two hours. BeG.o.d it's like a b.l.o.o.d.y tomb wid dem great lamps glarin' down on you an' not a soul stirren' excep' de flatties strollin' two an' two. Ellen an' me bin wanderin' round de City dis two hours. BeG.o.d it's like a b.l.o.o.d.y tomb wid dem great lamps glarin' down on you an' not a soul stirren' excep' de flatties strollin' two an' two.

SNOUTER: Five past - one and I ain't 'ad a bite since dinner! Course it 'ad to 'appen to us on a - night like This! Five past - one and I ain't 'ad a bite since dinner! Course it 'ad to 'appen to us on a - night like This!

MR TALLBOYS: A drinking night I should have called it. But every man to his taste. [ A drinking night I should have called it. But every man to his taste. [Chanting]'My strength is dried like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaveth to my gums!'...

CHARLIE: Say, what you think? Nosy and me done a smash jest now. Nosy sees a tobacconist's show-case full of them fancy boxes of Gold Flake, and 'e says, 'By cripes I'm going to 'ave some of them f.a.gs if they give me a peris.h.i.+ng stretch for it!"e says. So 'e wraps 'is scarf round 'is'and, and we waits till there's a peris.h.i.+ng great van pa.s.sing as'll drown the noise, and then Nosy lets flybiff! We nipped a dozen packets of f.a.gs, and then I bet you didn't see our a-s for dust. And when we gets round the corner and opens them, there wasn't no peris.h.i.+ng f.a.gs inside! Peris.h.i.+ng dummy boxes. I 'ad to laugh. Say, what you think? Nosy and me done a smash jest now. Nosy sees a tobacconist's show-case full of them fancy boxes of Gold Flake, and 'e says, 'By cripes I'm going to 'ave some of them f.a.gs if they give me a peris.h.i.+ng stretch for it!"e says. So 'e wraps 'is scarf round 'is'and, and we waits till there's a peris.h.i.+ng great van pa.s.sing as'll drown the noise, and then Nosy lets flybiff! We nipped a dozen packets of f.a.gs, and then I bet you didn't see our a-s for dust. And when we gets round the corner and opens them, there wasn't no peris.h.i.+ng f.a.gs inside! Peris.h.i.+ng dummy boxes. I 'ad to laugh.

DOROTHY: My knees are giving way. I can't stand up much longer. My knees are giving way. I can't stand up much longer.

MRS BENDIGO: Oh, the sod, the sod! To turn a woman out of doors on a night like b.l.o.o.d.y this! You wait'll I get 'im drunk o' Sat.u.r.day night and 'e can't 'it back. I'll mash 'im to b.l.o.o.d.y s.h.i.+n of beef, I will. 'E'll look like two pennorth of pieces after I've swiped 'im with the b.l.o.o.d.y flat-iron. Oh, the sod, the sod! To turn a woman out of doors on a night like b.l.o.o.d.y this! You wait'll I get 'im drunk o' Sat.u.r.day night and 'e can't 'it back. I'll mash 'im to b.l.o.o.d.y s.h.i.+n of beef, I will. 'E'll look like two pennorth of pieces after I've swiped 'im with the b.l.o.o.d.y flat-iron.

MRS MCELLIGOT: Here, make room'n let de kid sit down. Press up agen ole Daddy, dear. Put his arm round you. He's chatty, but he'll keep you warm. Here, make room'n let de kid sit down. Press up agen ole Daddy, dear. Put his arm round you. He's chatty, but he'll keep you warm.

GINGER [ [double marking time]: Stamp your feet on the groundonly bleeding thing to do. Strike up a song, someone, and less all stamp our bleeding feet in time to it.

DADDY [ [waking and emerging]: Wa.s.sat? [Still half asleep, he lets his head fall back, with mouth open and Adam's apple protruding from his withered throat like the blade of a tomahawk.]

MRS BENDIGO: There's women what if they'd stood what There's women what if they'd stood what I've I've stood, they'd ave put spirits of salts in 'is cup of b.l.o.o.d.y tea. stood, they'd ave put spirits of salts in 'is cup of b.l.o.o.d.y tea.

MR TALLBOYS [ [beating an imaginary drum and singing]: Onward, heathen so-oldiers- MRS WAYNE: Well, reely now! If any of us'd ever of thought, in the dear old days when we used to sit round our own Silkstone coal fire, with the kettle on the hob and a nice dish of toasted crumpets from the baker's over the way.... [ Well, reely now! If any of us'd ever of thought, in the dear old days when we used to sit round our own Silkstone coal fire, with the kettle on the hob and a nice dish of toasted crumpets from the baker's over the way.... [The chattering of her teeth silences her.]

CHARLIE: No peris.h.i.+ng church trap now, matie. I'll give y'a bit of s.m.u.tsomething as we can peris.h.i.+ng dance to. You listen t'me. No peris.h.i.+ng church trap now, matie. I'll give y'a bit of s.m.u.tsomething as we can peris.h.i.+ng dance to. You listen t'me.

MRS MCELLIGOT: Don't you get talkin' about crumpets, Missis. Me b.l.o.o.d.y belly's rubbin' agen me backbone already. Don't you get talkin' about crumpets, Missis. Me b.l.o.o.d.y belly's rubbin' agen me backbone already.

[Charlie draws himself up, clears his throat, and in an enormous voice roars out a song ent.i.tled 'Rollicking Bill the Sailor'. A laugh that is partly a shudder bursts from the people on the bench. They sing the song through again, with increasing volume of noise, stamping and clapping in time. Those sitting down, packed elbow to elbow, sway grotesquely from side to side, working their feet as though stamping on the pedals of a harmonium. Even Mrs Wayne joins in after a moment, laughing in spite of herself. They are all laughing, though with chattering teeth. Mr Tallboys marches up and down behind his vast swag belly, pretending to carry a banner or crozier in front of him. The night is now quite clear, and an icy wind comes shuddering at intervals through the Square. The stamping and clapping rise to a kind of frenzy as the people feel the deadly cold penetrate to their bones. Then the policeman is seen wandering into the Square from the eastern end, and the singing ceases abruptly.]

CHARLIE: There! You can't say as a bit of music don't warm you up. There! You can't say as a bit of music don't warm you up.

MRS BENDIGO: This b.l.o.o.d.y wind! And I ain't even got any drawers on, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d kicked me out in such a 'urry. This b.l.o.o.d.y wind! And I ain't even got any drawers on, the b.a.s.t.a.r.d kicked me out in such a 'urry.

MRS MCELLIGOT: Well, glory be to Jesus, 'twon't be long before dat dere church in de Gray's Inn Road opens up for de winter. Dey gives you a roof over your head of a night, 't any rate. Well, glory be to Jesus, 'twon't be long before dat dere church in de Gray's Inn Road opens up for de winter. Dey gives you a roof over your head of a night, 't any rate.

THE POLICEMAN: Now then, now Now then, now then! then! D'you think this is the time of night to begin singing like a blooming bear garden? I shall have to send you back to your homes if you can't keep quiet. D'you think this is the time of night to begin singing like a blooming bear garden? I shall have to send you back to your homes if you can't keep quiet.

SNOUTER [ [sotto voce]: You - son of a -!

GINGER: Yesthey lets you kip on the bleeding stone floor with three newspaper posters 'stead of blankets. Might as well be in the Square and 'ave done with it. G.o.d, I wish I was in the bleeding spike. Yesthey lets you kip on the bleeding stone floor with three newspaper posters 'stead of blankets. Might as well be in the Square and 'ave done with it. G.o.d, I wish I was in the bleeding spike.

MRS MCELLIGOT: Still, you gets a cup of Horlicks an' two slices. I bin glad to kip dere often enough. Still, you gets a cup of Horlicks an' two slices. I bin glad to kip dere often enough.

MRTALLBOYS [ [chanting]: I was glad when they said unto me, We will go into the house of the Lord!...

DOROTHY [ [starting up]: Oh, this cold, this cold! I don't know whether it's worse when you're sitting down or when you're standing up. Oh, how can you all stand it? Surely you don't have to do this every night of your lives?

MRS WAYNE: You mustn't think, dearie, as there isn't You mustn't think, dearie, as there isn't some some of us wasn't brought up respectable. of us wasn't brought up respectable.

CHARLIE [ [singing]: Cheer up, cully, you'll soon be dead! Brrh! Peris.h.i.+ng Jesus! Ain't my fish-hooks blue! [Double marks time and beats his arms against his sides.]

DOROTHY: Oh, but how can you stand it? How can you go on like this, night after night, year after year? It's not possible that people can live so! It's so absurd that one wouldn't believe it if one didn't know it was true. It's impossible! Oh, but how can you stand it? How can you go on like this, night after night, year after year? It's not possible that people can live so! It's so absurd that one wouldn't believe it if one didn't know it was true. It's impossible!

SNOUTER: - possible if you ask me. - possible if you ask me.

MR TALLBOYS [ [stage curate-wise]: With G.o.d, all things are possible.

[Dorothy sinks back on to the bench, her knees still being unsteady.]

CHARLIE: Well, it's jest on 'ar-pa.r.s.e one. Either we got to get moving, or else make a pyramid on that peris.h.i.+ng bench. Unless we want to peris.h.i.+ng turn up our toes. 'Oo's for a little const.i.tootional up to the Tower of London? Well, it's jest on 'ar-pa.r.s.e one. Either we got to get moving, or else make a pyramid on that peris.h.i.+ng bench. Unless we want to peris.h.i.+ng turn up our toes. 'Oo's for a little const.i.tootional up to the Tower of London?

MRS MCELLIGOT:'Twon't be me dat'll walk another step tonight. Me b.l.o.o.d.y legs've given out on me.

GINGER: What-o for the pyramid! This is a bit too bleeding nine-day-old for me. Less scrum into that benchbeg pardon, Ma! What-o for the pyramid! This is a bit too bleeding nine-day-old for me. Less scrum into that benchbeg pardon, Ma!

DADDY [ [sleepily]: Wa.s.sa game? Can't a man get a bit of kip but what you must come worriting 'im and shaking of 'im?

CHARLIE: That's the stuff! Shove in! s.h.i.+ft yourself, Daddy, and make room for my little sit-me-down. Get one atop of each other. That's right. Never mind the chats. Jam all together like pilchards in a peris.h.i.+ng tin. That's the stuff! Shove in! s.h.i.+ft yourself, Daddy, and make room for my little sit-me-down. Get one atop of each other. That's right. Never mind the chats. Jam all together like pilchards in a peris.h.i.+ng tin.

MRS WAYNE: Here! I didn't ask you to sit on my lap, young man! Here! I didn't ask you to sit on my lap, young man!

GINGER: Sit on mine, then, mother'sall the same. What-o! First bit of stuff I've 'ad my arm round since Easter. Sit on mine, then, mother'sall the same. What-o! First bit of stuff I've 'ad my arm round since Easter.

[They pile themselves in a monstrous shapeless clot, men and women clinging indiscriminately together, like a bunch of toads at sp.a.w.ning time. There is a writhing movement as the heap settles down, and a sour stench of clothes diffuses itself. Only Mr Tallboys remains marching up and down.]

MR TALLBOYS [ [declaiming]: O ye nights and days, ye light and darkness, ye lightnings and clouds, curse ye the Lord!

[Deafie, someone having sat on his diaphragm, utters a strange, unreproducible sound.]

MRS BENDIGO: Get off my bad leg, can't you? What you think I am? b.l.o.o.d.y drawing-room sofa? Get off my bad leg, can't you? What you think I am? b.l.o.o.d.y drawing-room sofa?

CHARLIE: Don't ole Daddy stink when you get up agen 'im? Don't ole Daddy stink when you get up agen 'im?

GINGER: Bleeding Bank 'oliday for the chats this'll be. Bleeding Bank 'oliday for the chats this'll be.

DOROTHY: Oh, G.o.d, G.o.d! Oh, G.o.d, G.o.d!

MR TALLBOYS [ [halting]: Why call on G.o.d, you puling deathbed penitent? Stick to your guns and call on the Devil as I do. Hail to thee, Lucifer, Prince of the Air! [Singing to the tune of 'Holy, holy holy']: Incubi and Succubi, falling down before Thee!...

MRS BENDIGO: Oh, shut up, you blarsphemous old sod!'E's too b.l.o.o.d.y fat to feel the cold, that's what's wrong with 'im. Oh, shut up, you blarsphemous old sod!'E's too b.l.o.o.d.y fat to feel the cold, that's what's wrong with 'im.

CHARLIE: Nice soft be'ind you got, Ma. Keep an eye out for the peris.h.i.+ng flattie, Ginger. Nice soft be'ind you got, Ma. Keep an eye out for the peris.h.i.+ng flattie, Ginger.

MR TALLBOYS: Malecidite, omnia opera! Malecidite, omnia opera! The Black Ma.s.s! Why not? Once a priest always a priest. Hand me a chunk of toke and I will work the miracle. Sulphur candles, Lord's Prayer backwards, crucifix upside down. [ The Black Ma.s.s! Why not? Once a priest always a priest. Hand me a chunk of toke and I will work the miracle. Sulphur candles, Lord's Prayer backwards, crucifix upside down. [To Dorothy] If we had a black he-goat you would come in useful.

[The animal heat of the piled bodies had already made itself felt. A drowsiness is descending upon everyone.]

MRS WAYNE: You mustn't think as I'm You mustn't think as I'm accustomed accustomed to sitting on a gentleman's knee, you know... to sitting on a gentleman's knee, you know...

MRS MCELLIGOT [ [drowsily]: It took my sacraments reg'lar till de b.l.o.o.d.y priest wouldn't give me absolution along o' my Michael. De ole get, de ole getsie!...

MR TALLBOYS [ [striking an att.i.tude]: Per aquam sacratam quam nunc spargo, signumque crucis quod nunc fado....

GINGER:'Oo's got a fill of 'ard-up? I've smoked by last bleeding f.a.g-end.

MR TALLBOYS [ [as at the altar]: Dearly beloved brethren we are gathered together in the sight of G.o.d for the solemnization of unholy blasphemy. He has afflicted us with dirt and cold, with hunger and solitude, with the pox and the itch, with the headlouse and the crablouse. Our food is damp crusts and slimy meat-sc.r.a.ps handed out in packets from hotel doorways. Our pleasure is stewed tea and sawdust cakes bolted in reeking cellars, bar-rinsing sand spittle of common ale, the embrace of toothless hags. Our destiny is the pauper's grave, twenty-feet deep in deal coffins, the kip-house of underground. It is very meet, right and our bounden duty at all times and in all places to curse Him and revile Him. Therefore with Demons and Archdemons [etc., etc., etc.].

MRS MCELLIGOT [ [drowsily]: By holy Jesus, I'm half asleep right now, only some b-'s lyin' across my legs and crus.h.i.+n''em.

MR TALLBOYS: Amen. Evil from us deliver, but temptation into not us lead [ Amen. Evil from us deliver, but temptation into not us lead [etc., etc., etc.].

[As he reaches the first word of the prayer he tears the consecrated bread across. The blood runs out of it. There is a rolling sound, as of thunder, and the landscape changes. Dorothy's feet are very cold. Monstrous winged shapes of Demons and Archdemons are dimly visible, moving to and fro. Something, beak or claw, closes upon Dorothy's shoulder, reminding her that her feet and hands are aching with cold.]

THE POLICEMAN [ [shaking Dorothy by the shoulder]: Wake up, now, wake up, wake up! Haven't you got an overcoat? You're as white as death. Don't you know better than to let yourself sprawl about in the cold like that? [Dorothy finds that she is stiff with cold. The sky is now quite clear, with gritty little stars twinkling like electric lamps enormously remote. The pyramid has unrolled itself.]

MRS MCELLIGOT: De poor kid, she ain't used to roughin' it de way us others are. De poor kid, she ain't used to roughin' it de way us others are.

GINGER [ [beating his arms]: Brr! Woo!'Taters in the bleeding mould!

MRS WAYNE: She's a lady born and bred. She's a lady born and bred.

THE POLICEMAN: Is that so?See here, Miss, you best come down to the M.A.B. with me. They'll give you a bed all right. Anyone can see with half an eye as you're a cut above these others here. Is that so?See here, Miss, you best come down to the M.A.B. with me. They'll give you a bed all right. Anyone can see with half an eye as you're a cut above these others here.

MRS BENDIGO: Thank you, constable, Thank you, constable, thank thank you!'Ear that, girls?'A cut above us,''e says. Nice, ain't it? [ you!'Ear that, girls?'A cut above us,''e says. Nice, ain't it? [To the policeman] Proper b.l.o.o.d.y Ascot swell yourself, ain't you?

DOROTHY: No, no! Leave me, I'd rather stay here. No, no! Leave me, I'd rather stay here.

THE POLICEMAN: Well, please yourself. You looked real bad just now. I'll be along later and take a look at you. [ Well, please yourself. You looked real bad just now. I'll be along later and take a look at you. [Moves off doubtfully.]

CHARLIE: Wait'll the perisher's round the corner and then pile up agen. Only peris.h.i.+ng way we'll keep warm. Wait'll the perisher's round the corner and then pile up agen. Only peris.h.i.+ng way we'll keep warm.

MRS MCELLIGOT: Come on, kid. Get underneath an' let'm warm you. Come on, kid. Get underneath an' let'm warm you.

SNOUTER: Ten minutes to - two. Can't last for ever, I s'pose. Ten minutes to - two. Can't last for ever, I s'pose.