Behind a polite smile, Arthur felt irritated. What poor excuse was 'it happens elsewhere too'? And it wasn't true! He had seen many places, and he felt Whitby was worse. Then there was all those disappearing bicycles as well! But his face was a mask of civil smiles. He was a politician after all.

"Well, I am glad to hear you mean to improve it. The Longbottoms are probably one of the notorious families. Somewhere in that slum down by Tate Hill Pier, I believe. Drunk swindlers, by the reports I've heard, and the children are just as bad. Some boys in prison or reform school or whatever - I believe those are the lucky ones really, being extracted from that family, and God alone knows what horrible situations the girls are placing themselves in, if you get my meaning. They're a real blight on this town, and I hope they shall be dealt with swiftly, now that there is an effective police force. The older children, I believe, are spoilt already. They'll be best suited to prison or a reform school. They would all be in there already if..." He stopped himself, as if he had accidentally said too much. It wasn't an accident. "But the younger ones my organization might still be able to help. If you find any child in that home below the age of ten, we'll try to resocialise it."