— XIV —BROKERS AND
THE MARRIAGE QUESTION
One afternoon Mr. Smithers, returning to Dulverton Road, saw what looked like a furniture van standing outside the door of No. 23. As he came along the pavement he observed it with surprise. Men were taking things out of the house and placing them in the van, in a manner which suggested that a removal was taking place. As he had only quitted the house a few hours before, and had then heard nothing to lead him to suppose that such a move was intended, he could but wonder what the thing might mean. As he reached the door a man came out with a couch on his head, which he recognised as being part of the furniture of his own sitting-room. To this man he put a question.
“What’s the meaning of this? And what are you doing with that couch?”
“The meaning
