e done about Carry Brattle at once." The Vicar felt
that he had pledged himself to take some steps for her welfare, and
it seemed to him, as he thought of the matter, that there were only
two steps possible. He might intercede with her father, or he might
use his influence to have her received into some house of correction,
some retreat, in which she might be kept from evil and disciplined
for good. He knew that the latter would be the safer plan, if it
could be brought to bear; and it would certainly be the easier for
himself. But he thought that he had almost pledged himself to the
girl not to attempt it, and he felt sure that she would not accede
to it. In his doubt he went up to his friend Gilmore, intending to
obtain the light of his friend's wisdom. He found the Squire and the
Prebendary together, and at once started his subject.

"You'll do no good, Mr. Fenwick," said Mr. Chamberlaine, after the
two younger men had been discussing the matter for half an hour.

"Do you mean that I ought not to try to do any good?"

"I mean that such efforts never come to anything."

"All the unfortunate creatures in the world, then, should be left to
go to destruction in their own way."

"It is useless, I think, to treat special cases in an exceptional
manner. When such is done, it is done from enthusiasm, and enthusiasm
is never useful."

"What ought a man to do, then, for the assistance of such
fellow-creatures as this poor girl?" asked the Vicar.

"There are penitentiaries and reformatories, and it is well, no
doubt, to subscribe to them," said the Prebendary. "The subject is so
full of difficulty that one should not touch it rashly. Henry, where
is the last Quarterly?"

"I never take it, sir."

"I ought to have remembered," said Mr. Chamberlaine, smiling blandly.
Then he took up the Saturday Review, and endeavoured to content
himself with that.

Gilmore and Fenwick walked down to the mill together, it being
understood that the Squire was not to show himself there. Fenwick's
difficult task, if it were to be done at all, must be done by himself
alone. He must beard the lion in his den, and make the attack without
any assistant. Gilmore had upon the whole been disposed to think
that no such attack should be made. "He'll only turn upon you with
violence, and no good will be done," said he. "He can't eat me,"
Fenwick had replied, acknowledging, however, that he approached the
undertaking with fear and trembling. Before