Commonplace Book

'This description of poverty is addicted to moving. It frequently changes its address. It lies abed late of a morning, and only regains a sense of security and freedom after dark. It is almost invariably in debt and in a persistent state of anxiety as to ways and means. It seldom enters a place of worship, though it contrives to show a gay face and smart garment in the music-hall or gallery of the theatre. It is generally vulgar, mean, tawdry, sensual, improvident, disreputable, incorrigible - often clever, witty, kindly, unselfish, as well. And it is always pathetic - pathetic with the desolating pathos of things mistaken and gone astray; of things by nature glad and pleasant, but through accident or wilful mis-use grown soiled and dirty; of things born with a curse of inadequacy and futility upon them - dancing, as vessels dance, all the more merrily over the waves for lack of the ballast, that, while it would make their course a slower and more laborious one, would save them from foundering at last.'

from The Wages of Sin by Lucas Malet (Book IV, Chapter I)