"The way it is done by other people--as we did it last year, for
instance."

"I should be sorry to see last year's entertainment repeated if like
consequences must follow," replied Mr. Elliott, becoming still more
serious.

Mr. Birtwell showed considerable annoyance at: this.

"I have just come from a visit to your friend Mrs. Voss," said the
clergyman.

"How is she?" Mrs. Birtwell asked, anxiously.

"I do not think she can last much longer," was replied.

Tears came into Mrs. Birtwell's eyes and fell over her cheeks.

"A few days at most--a few hours, maybe--and she will be at rest. She
spoke of you very tenderly, and I think would like to see you."

"Then I will go to her immediately," said Mrs. Birtwell, rising. "You
must excuse me, Mr. Elliott. I will take the carriage and go alone,"
she added, glancing toward her husband.

The two men on being left alone remained silent for a while. Mr.
Birtwell was first to speak.

"I have always felt badly," he said, "about the death of Archie Voss.
No blame attaches to us of course, but it was unfortunate that he had
been at our house."

"Yes, very unfortunate," responded the clergyman. Something in his
voice as well as in his manner awakened an uncomfortable feeling in the
mind of Mr. Birtwell.

They were silent again, neither of them seeming at his ease.

"I had hoped," said Mr. Elliott, breaking at length this silence, "to
find you by this time over upon our side."

"The cold-water side, you mean?" There was perceptible annoyance in Mr.
Birtwell's tone.

"On the side of some reform in our social customs. Why can't you join
with your excellent wife in taking the initiative? You may count on me
to endorse the movement and give it my countenance and support."

"Thank you, Mr. Elliott, but I'm not your man," returned Mr. Birtwell.
He spoke with decision. "I have no desire to be counted in with
reformers."

"Think of the good you might do."

"I am not a philanthropist."

"Then think of the evil you might prevent."

"The good or the evil resulting from my action, take which side I may,
will be very small," said Mr. Birtwell, with an indifference of manner
that showed his desire to drop the subject. But Mr. Elliott was only
leading the way for some plainer talk, and did not mean to lose his
opportunity.

"It is an error," he said, "to make light of our personal influence or
the consequences that may flow from what we do. The hand of a child is
not too we