nt to make sure that I am
perfectly honest with myself and with everybody.

_Matt._ That perhaps may need a little consideration, Lucas?

_Lucas._ Oh, let Harry have his doing first!

_Matt._ Now, Harry!

_Harry._ Oh, well, here goes! I'm going to make a clean breast. The fact
is I've made a thundering mess of it.

_Matt._ Ah!

_Harry._ I did begin all right except for a little tiff with Dolly--and
then I kept on pretty well for some time, and then--well I don't know--I
seemed to go all to pieces and--[MATT _rattles the money-box._] However,
better luck this year.

_Pilcher._ Shall we say a little more resolution?

_Harry._ Oh, I mean to pull myself together this year.

_Matt._ Perhaps you tried too much reforming, Harry--too many irons in
the fire, eh?

_Harry._ Well, it's jolly hard to keep it up. And I'd got pretty slack
till you woke us up last night--I say, that was a rouser again.

_Pilcher._ It wasn't a very bad sermon, was it? Well now for the
next year shall we make one especial effort in one especial
direction--Say----

_Dolly._ Temper, eh, Harry?

_Harry._ Right, old girl! Oh, I mean it.

_Matt._ No victory for free will, and the Blanket Club, this time. Game
and game, eh? Now which of you two----

[_Looking at_ RENIE _and_ LUCAS.

_Renie._ I'll be your first victim. [_Coming into the middle of the
room, and posing._] It's so strange that what you started as a jest----

_Matt._ Oh no, in deadly earnest I assure you.

_Renie._ In this life who knows what is jest and what is earnest? The
least little innocent thing may turn to a tragedy in a moment----

_Matt._ Surely you haven't had any little tragedies?

_Renie._ No, last year a mere little circumstance might have turned to a
tragedy--honestly I wasn't to blame, but perhaps I was a little
careless, and two dear friends came to me with their counsel, and what
might have been a tragedy was turned to a comedy, thanks to those two
dear friends!

_Prof._ My dear, may I ask "what circumstance" you are alluding to?

_Matt._ We said we wouldn't be inquisitive----

_Prof._ No, but I cannot recall anything in my wife's life during the
last twelve months that even approached a tragedy----

_Renie._ I said the affair was quite unimportant----

_Prof._ Then I wish, my dear, you wouldn't magnify everything, and I
wish you would read solid scientific works in place of rubbishy French
novels--and above all, take a little more regular exer