y so."

"And suppose there was no government What about your novels then?"

"I'd make a magnificent one out of the spectacle of chaos."

"But you know very well you're talking bosh," exclaimed Abraham,
somewhat discomfited. "There must be government, and there must be
order, say what you like. Its nature that the strong should rule over
the weak, and show them what's for their own good. What else are we
here for? if you're going to be a parson, well and good; then cry down
the world as much as you please, and think only about heaven and hell.
But as far as I can make out, there's government there too. The devil
rebelled and was kicked out. Serve him right If he wasn't strong enough
to hold his own, he'd ought to have kept quiet."

"You're a Conservative, of course," said Waymark, smiling. "You believe
only in keeping the balance. You don't are about reform."

"Don't be so sure of that Let me have the chance and he power, and I'd
reform hard enough, many a thing."

"Well, one might begin on a small scale. Suppose one took in hand
Litany Lane and Elm Court? Suppose we exert our right as the stronger,
and, to begin with, do a little whitewashing? Then sundry stairs and
ceilings might be looked to. No doubt there'd be resistance, but on the
whole it would be for the people's own good. A little fresh draining
mightn't be amiss, or--"

"What the devil's all this to do with politics?" cried Abraham, whose
face had grown dark.

"I should imagine, a good deal," returned Waymark, knocking out his
pipe. "If you're for government, yen mustn't be above considering
details."

"And so you think you have a hit at me, eh? Nothing of the kind. These
are affairs of private contract, and no concern of government at all.
In private contract a man has only a right to what he's strong enough
to exact If a tenant tells me my houses ain't fit to live in, I tell
him to go where he'll be better off' and I don't hinder him; I know
well enough in a day or two there'll come somebody else. Ten to one he
can't go, and he don't. Then why should I be at unnecessary expense in
making the places better? As Boon as I can get no tenants I'll do so;
not till then."

"You don't believe in works of mere humanity?"

"What the devil's humanity got to do with business?" cried Abraham.

"True," was Waymark's rejoinder.

"See, we won't talk of these kind of things," said Mr. Woodstock.
"That's just what we always used to quarrel about, and I'm getti