be better without. I am hasty. From my boyhood I have
known it, and have kept it under to the best of my ability. But,
notwithstanding my efforts, this hastiness sometimes gets the better of
me, just when I am most in want of a little cool reflection. I lose my
head, the words begin to flow like a torrent, and I listen to them
myself almost with terror. Yes, you have heard me yourself on one
memorable occasion, Miss Rachel," he added with a smile, "and I am sure
you will confess that a man of my nature is but little suited to engage
in a struggle with prejudice. For, for such a struggle, patience and
coolness are imperative."

"It is quite possible that the attributes of which you speak are most
desirable," answered Rachel, "but still it seems quite clear to me that
every man who has a conviction is bound to act up to it. How much he can
accomplish is not the question he must ask himself, but he is bound to
make the attempt."

"I will just tell you how my first attempt turned out," said Jacob
Worse. "When I came home, which is now about two or three years ago,
still breathing the comparative freedom of other lands, the first thing
in our own country which attracted my attention was the exceptionally
bad social condition of our labourers and mechanics. Their houses and
food, the bringing-up of their children, their teaching and education,
in fact, everything which belonged to them, fell far short of what I
thought it ought to be."

"I have often thought upon the same subject," rejoined Rachel. "But
father says it is the fault of the people themselves; they are so
greatly opposed to change."

"That is one of your most excellent father's worst prejudices. However,
I began by getting up a society, which with us is no easy matter. All
went well at first, and then a president had to be chosen. Some one
suggested myself, a proposition to which all the others agreed, which
was quite natural. I thus became president, and took no little trouble
in instructing the people as to what questions were important for them,
and what were their requirements. Then I began to hear a whisper here
and there that it was a curious thing that the president of the society
had never been properly elected. I did not take much notice of these
whispers, but still I suggested that there should be an election. The
day came, and some one else was chosen in my place."

"It was Mr. Martens, was it not?" asked Rachel.

"Yes; you are quite right. I w