wife, he lapsed into silence.
'Perhaps we could go inside for a moment?' George asked, moving towards the house. 'I won't keep you long, but it's easier to talk inside than in the garden, isn't it?'
Rather reluctantly, Mr Thomas led the way into the squalid little house. They all crowded into the small front parlour. Mr Thomas dusted two chairs with his cap and pushed them forward, warned his children that if they didn't sit quiet he'd knock their blocks off, and sat down himself. Mrs Thomas stood by the window.
George glanced round the room and cleared his throat. He was not nervous. He knew what he was going to do, he had an interested audience, and the result of what he had to say was his bread and butter. More important still, he wished to impress Brant with his salesmanship.
'Before I come to the point,' he began, taking up his position behind the chair and grasping the back of it firmly in both hands, 'let me put to you both a very important question. You will both agree with me that education today is the most vital factor in the life of any child?'
Mr Thomas and his wife emphatically agreed that this was so, and Mr Thomas began a rambling account of the lack of education in his time.
George hurriedly interrupted. 'Fortunately, Mr Thomas, times have changed. Now, education is so important you can't leave all the work to the school teachers. Many a time your kiddies have asked you questions which you're unable to answer. There're thousands of such questions, and they are very difficult to answer. I've had a lot to do with children, and I know how worrying it is not to be able to satisfy their craving for knowledge.'
'That's right,' Mr Thomas returned, nodding his head. 'Fair terrors these imps are. Always asking questions . . .'
'And what questions!' George went on, beaming at the children. 'I don't have to remind you of all the conundrums, do I? You know only too well. All the same, these questions should be answered.'
Mr Thomas nodded again. He had no idea what all this was about, but he felt that George did appreciate their difficulties and was trying to be helpful.
'Very well, then,' George said, getting into his stride. 'Children are thirsting for knowledge. Teachers haven't the time to explain everything children want to know. Parents haven't the knowledge. So what happens?' He leaned forward, suddenly looking stern. 'Your children, Mr Thomas, are being mentally starved. Make no mistake about that! You would be ashamed to starve their bodies. Yet you are openly starving their minds. Knowledge is to the mind what food is to the body.'
Mr Thomas began to have doubts about George's good intentions. He scratched his head and glanced at his wife for support.
George paused until there was a long, awkward silence, and then he flashed on his old heartiness again. 'Now, don't let that disturb you,' he went on, beaming round on them. 'I'm here to put all that right. I have a wonderful work that'll be the silent teacher in your home.'
From his hidden poacher's pocket, he produced the specimen of the Ch
'Let me show you.'
He laid the book on the table. Mr and Mrs Thomas and the two children crowded round him. He began to turn the pages slowly, making a comment for every page.
'Look at these magnificent pictures. Here, children can slip over to Africa and roam about the jungle in perfect safety. They can see the wild animals, study their habits and learn how they live. The King of Beasts. Isn't that a wonderful picture? Look, Tommy, look at the tiny cubs. They're like ordinary kittens, aren't they? But they'd scratch if you met them in the jungle.' He glanced at Mr Thomas. 'See how interested the boy is? Every page has been planned to attract children to look further. It's scientific teaching of the highest possible standard.' He turned another page. 'Now, what have we here? The story of wireless, and, more interesting still, how to construct many various kinds of sets. I'm sure you, Mr Thomas, would be interested in this section. Have you ever thought of making your own wireless? These instructions are simple, and you don't have to have any previous knowledge.' He made sure that Mr Thomas was looking at the coloured plates a little wistfully before turning on to another section. 'Here's something that's useful to everyone in the home: the Medical section. Your kiddie might scald himself—so many kiddies do—turn to page 155 and you learn how to deal with such an emergency. Your own doctor in your own home! Isn't that something worth having? No waiting, no bills, easy reference— possibly a life saved!' He noted the slow-rising interest, but decided that neither Mr nor Mrs Thomas was as yet quite convinced, so he turned on, delighted with the sound of his own voice, pleased with the set, worn phrases which now automatically came to his lips without the need of thought. 'Tommy perhaps has to write an essay on ships: here it is, all ready for him Tommy will soon be at the top of his class. Jean has a problem in arithmetic: she fords her answer here. You, Mr Thomas, want to know what will best grow in your garden: here is the whole thing ready for you in the Gardening section. A few nights' reading and Mr Thomas' garden is the envy of all his neighbours. Mrs Thomas, although you're no doubt an excellent cook, you can get new ideas from the Cookery section.' He stepped hack and thumped his large fist on the back of the chair. 'It's a great work! A work for every one of you. You will agree with me, I am sure, that it'd be useful to have a set of these magnificent books in your home? Can't you see how they'd help your kiddies get on and assure a sound future for them?'
Mrs Thomas stared at her husband, her eyes bright. 'Ain't that a wonderful turn out, Bert?' she said. 'I've never seen anything like it. What say, shall we 'ave 'em?'
'Yes, dad,' the children chimed in, 'let's 'ave 'em. Coo, dad, look at all them pictures . . .'
'You shut up,' Mr Thomas growled. He scratched his head and fingered the specimen thoughtfully. 'I'm not saying they ain't all right, but this sort of thing costs money . . .'
'Now let me explain about that,' George said, with an expansive smile. 'The Child's Self-Educator is in four handsome volumes. Although we're making every effort to put this work in all homes at cost price, it still needs a little effort on your part to secure it. Good things don't just fall from Heaven. I wish they did, but they don't. You have to make a small sacrifice for them.' He shook his head solemnly Then, lowering his voice, he said impressively, 'It's going to cost you tuppence a day.'
'Tuppence a day?' Mr Thomas repeated blankly. 'Wot yer mean?'
'Just that,' George replied, knowing that he had reached the crucial part of the sale and moving with caution. 'Consider what tuppence a day means. A shilling odd a week for your children's future success. Surely that isn't asking too much? We don't collect the money daily or weekly, of course, but monthly: five shillings a month.
'The whole work costs seven pounds, ten shillings. We're not asking you for that amount, we're asking for
