_Mr. C.-J._ (_escaping, after ten minutes' incoherence_). I'm afraid he was not _quite_ in a condition to be argued with, but perhaps I shall do better with Mr. MOLESKIN, next door. (_To a small boy in passage._) Mr. MOLESKIN in, my lad? _The Boy._ Father--_e's_ in. Go right up the stairs, and you'll find 'im. [_Mr. C.-J. flounders up the narrow stairs, and is met at the top by a very burly and surly mechanic._ _Mr. Moleskin_. Now, then, what do _you_ want 'ere? (Mr. C.-J. _explains his object, in some confusion_.) Oh, that's it, is it? And what right ha' you got comin' up my stairs as if they belonged to you? Jest you tell me that! _Mr. C.-J._ (_meekly_). I'm really very sorry--but I was--er--_shown_ up. _Mr. M._ It's 'igh time you and the likes o' you _were_ shown up, in my opinion. 'Ow would you like to 'ave me comin' bustin' up _your_ stairs, eh? _Mr. C.-J._ (_thinking that he wouldn't like it at all_). I assure you I quite feel that this is an unwarrantable intrusion on my part--I must ask you to accept my best apologies--but I should be very glad to know that we might count on your--er--support at such a national crisis. _Mr. M._ I dessay yer would. But what I ask _you_ is--where does the secresy of the Ballot come in, if I'm to tell you which way I'm goin' to give my vote? _Mr. C.-J._ (_in distress_). Pray believe that I should not dream of--er--forcing any confidence from you, or dictating to you in any way! I merely-- _Mr. M._ (_mollified_). Well, I don't mind tellin' yer this much:--I've made up _my_ mind long ago, and, when the time comes, I shall vote to please myself and nobody else; and that's as much as you've got any right to know! _Mr. C.-J._ (_with a feeling that he would give much the same answer himself under similar circumstances_). Then I'm afraid it would be of no use if I said any more? _Mr. M._ Not a bit o' use! [_He goes into his room again._ _Mrs. Moleskin_ (_coming out and addressing her son from landing_). 'Ere, JIMMY, you come in orf o' that doorstep, and don't you go showin' any _more_ folks up, or you don't know _oo'_ you may let in next! _Mr. C.-J._ (_sadly, to himself, as he descends_). I'd no idea canvassing was such exhausting work. I--I really think I've done enough for one afternoon! [_Leaves Little Anna Maria Street--for ever!_ * * * * * [Illustration: "Bear with us!"]