at once that he would be able to oblige many of his friends by
getting rid of people troublesome to them, but with this exception
where was he to find the recruits the queen required? There were,
of course, a few never do wells in the town who could be packed
off, to the general satisfaction of the inhabitants, but beyond
this every one taken would have friends and relations who would
cry out and protest.

It was likely to be a troublesome business, and the mayor threw
down the paper on the table before him. Then suddenly his expression
changed. He had been thinking of obliging his friends by sending
off persons troublesome to them, but he had not thought of his own
case. Here was the very thing; he would send off this troublesome
lad to fight for the queen; and whether he went to the Low Countries
under Marlborough, or to Spain with this new expedition which was
being prepared, it was very unlikely that he would ever return to
trouble him.

He was only sixteen, indeed, but he was strong and well grown, and
much fitter for service than many of those who would be sent. If
the young fellow stopped here he would always be a trouble, and
a bone of contention between himself and his wife. Besides, for
Alice's sake, it was clearly his duty to get the fellow out of the
way. Girls, Mr. Anthony considered, were always falling in love
with the very last people in the world with whom they should do so,
and out of sheer contrariety it was more than possible that Alice
might take a fancy for this penniless vagabond, and if she did Mrs.
Anthony was fool enough to support her in her folly.

Of course there would be trouble with his wife when she found what