winter occupation--public
oratory--advocacy of social and municipal reform--mostly on Fabian
lines. The man's honest, mind you. . . . But he's finishing. . . .
Come along! Are you for the platform, Jack?"

"Not if I can sit somewhere at your feet and look up at you," said
Foe. "I'm not at all certain that I approve of your candidate,
either, or his political platform--"

"Our Mr. Farrell, Professor? Oh, surely!--" the little steward
expostulated. "But maybe you've never made Mr. Farrell's
acquaintance, sir?"

"Never set eyes on him, to my knowledge," Foe assured him.

"Then, Professor--if I may make bold to say so--it's impossible to
disapprove of Mr. Farrell. He's a bit what-you-might-call
_opportunist_ in his views; but, for the gentleman himself, he
wouldn't hurt a fly--not a headache in a hogshead of him, as the
saying goes. . . . Certainly, Sir Roderick, if you're ready. . . .
Mr. Byles, here, will conduct the Professor to a chair close under
the platform. We usually keep a few front seats vacant, for friends
and--er--eventualities."

"I'm an eventuality," said Foe.

"You'll be one of _us_, sir, before you've finished, never fear!" the
little steward promised genially.

We entered amid salvos of applause, again and again renewed. It was
none of our earning nor intended for us. Jenkinson (I was afterwards
told) had varied his peroration with a local allusion very cleverly
introduced. "They probably knew him" (he said)--"those, at any rate,
who happened to live near Kennington probably knew him--for one who
earned his living by a form of sport, by a mere game, if they
preferred so to call it." (Cheers.) "He was not there to defend
himself, still less to defend cricket." (Hear, hear.) "He would
only say that cricket was a game which demanded some skill and--
especially when one bowled at the Oval" (loud cheers) "against
Surrey" (cheers loud and prolonged)--"often some endurance."
(Laughter.) "He would add that cricket was a thoroughly English
game." (Renewed cheers.) "Why do I mention cricket to-night,
sir?"--Jenkinson swung round and demanded it of the Chairman, who
hadn't a notion. "I mention it, sir, because players have sometimes
said to me, 'Jenkinson, I wonder you always seem to enjoy yourself at
the Oval.' 'Why not?' says I; 'the crowd's friendly and the pitch
perfect.' 'That's just it,' they say; 'perfect to break a bowler's
heart.' 'Never you mind.' I answers: 'Tom Jenkinson,