and have a large family, which might possibly advantage the
nation and ultimately enrich the Kingdom of Heaven, though of
such things no one could be quite sure. At any rate, he was
certain that at present I was in practice neglecting my duty,
whatever it might be, and in fact one of those cumberers of the
earth who, he observed in the newspaper he took in and read when
he had time, were "very happily named--the idle rich."

"Which reminds me," he added, "that the clothing-club finances
are in a perfectly scandalous condition; in fact, it is £25 in
debt, an amount that as the squire of the parish I consider it
incumbent on you to make good, not as a charity but as an
obligation."

"Look here, my friend," I said, ignoring all the rest, "will
you answer me a plain question? Have you found marriage such a
success that you consider it your duty to recommend it to others?
And if you have, why have you not got the large family of which
you speak?"

"Of course not," he replied with his usual frankness. "Indeed,
it is in many ways so disagreeable that I am convinced it must be
right and for the good of all concerned. As regards the family I
am sure I do not know, but Sarah never liked babies, which
perhaps has something to do with it."

Then he sighed, adding, "You see, Arbuthnot, we have to take
things as we find them in this world and hope for a better."

"Which is just what I am trying to do, you unilluminating old