aunched forth the abominable and preposterous theory that the only
thing the Radicals would bring England to would be the necessity of
returning to barbarism and importing slaves--then their schemes applied
to the present inhabitants of the country might all work. The denizens
in the casual wards, having a vote and a competence provided by the
State, would have time to become of the leisured classes and apply
themselves to culture, and so every free citizen being equal, a company
of philosophers and an aristocracy of intellect would arise and all
would be well!

Mrs. Cricklander glanced stealthily at his whimsical face, to be sure
whether he were joking or no--and decided he probably was. But Mr.
Hanbury-Green, so irritated by the delightful hostess's evident
_penchant_ for his rival, allowed his ill-humor to obscure his usually
keen judgment, and took the matter up in serious earnest.

"Your side would not import, but reduce us all--we who are the defenders
of the people--to being slaves," he said with some asperity. "Your class
has had its innings long enough, it would be the best thing in the world
for you to have to come down to doing your own housework."

"I should make a capital cook," said John Derringham, with smiling eyes,
"but I should certainly refuse to cook for anyone but myself; and you,
Mr. Green, who may be an indifferent artist in that respect, would have
perhaps a bad dinner."

"I never understand," interrupted Mrs. Cricklander--"when everything is
socialistic, shall we not be able to live in these nice houses?"

"Of course not," said Mr. Hanbury-Green gravely. "You will have to share
with less fortunate people." And then he drew himself up ready for
battle, and began.

"Why, because a man or woman is born in the gutter, should not he or she
be given by the State the same chance as though born in a palace? We are
all exactly the same human beings, only until now luck and circumstance
have been different for us."

"I am all for everyone having the same chance," agreed John Derringham,
allowing the smile to stay in his eyes, "although I do not admit we are
all the same human beings, any more than the Derby winner is the same
horse as the plow horse or the cob. They can all draw some kind of
vehicle, but they cannot all win races--they have to excel, each in his
different line. Give everyone a chance, by all means, and then make him
come up for examination, and if found fit passed on for higher thi