I state these in no order, but as they occur to me. And I shall do
the like with the objections.

First Objection: It will do no good; you have seen Gordon die and
nobody minded; nobody will mind if you die. This is plainly of the
devil. Second Objection: You will not even be murdered, the
climate will miserably kill you, you will strangle out in a rotten
damp heat, in congestion, etc. Well, what then? It changes
nothing: the purpose is to brave crime; let me brave it, for such
time and to such an extent as God allows. Third Objection: The
Curtin women are probably highly uninteresting females. I haven't
a doubt of it. But the Government cannot, men will not, protect
them. If I am the only one to see this public duty, it is to the
public and the Right I should perform it - not to Mesdames Curtin.
Fourth Objection: I am married. 'I have married a wife!' I seem
to have heard it before. It smells ancient! what was the context?
Fifth Objection: My wife has had a mean life (1), loves me (2),
could not bear to lose me (3). (1) I admit: I am sorry. (2) But
what does she love me for? and (3) she must lose me soon or late.
And after all, because we run this risk, it does not follow we
should fail. Sixth Objection: My wife wouldn't like it. No, she
wouldn't. Who would? But the Curtins don't like it. And all
those who are to suffer if this goes on, won't like it. And if
there is a great wrong, somebody must suffer. Seventh Objection:
I won't like it. No, I will not; I have thought it through, and I
will not. But what of that? And both she and I may like it more
than we suppose. We shall lose friends, all comforts, all society:
so has everybody who has ever done anything; but we shall have some
excitement, and that's a fine thing; and we shall be trying to do
the right, and that's not to be despised. Eighth Objection: I am