t be wise to confess it in our
circle."

"Why?" inquired Charles.

"Because it would prove that we had been in it," answered the lady.

"At all events," said John, "now I shall not have to reproach myself
with every extra expense, and think I ought to pay my debts first; now
I may live exactly as I please."

"I do not think so," said Charles.

"Not think so!" repeated Mrs. Adams in a tone of astonishment.

"Not think so!" exclaimed John; "do I not make the money myself?"

"Granted, my dear fellow; to be sure you do," said Charles.

"Then why should I not spend it as pleases me best? Is there any
reason why I should not?"

As if to give the strongest dramatic effect to Charles's opinion, the
nurse at that moment opened the drawing-room door, and four little
laughing children rushed into the room.

"There--are four reasons against your spending your income exactly as
you please; unless, indeed, part of your plan be to provide for them,"
answered Charles very seriously.

"I am sure," observed Mrs. Adams, with the half-offended air of a weak
woman when she hears the truth, "John need not be told his duty to his
children; he has always been a most affectionate father."

"A father may be fond and foolish," said Charles, who was peculiarly
English in his mode of giving an opinion. "For my part, I could not
kiss my little Mary and Anne when I go to bed at night, if I did
not feel I had already formed an accumulating fund for their future
support--a support they will need all the more when their parents are
taken from them, as they must be, in the course of time."

"They must marry," said Mrs. Adams.

"That is a chance," replied Charles; "women hang on hands now-a-days.
At all events, by God's blessing, I am resolved that, if they are
beauties, they shall never be forced by poverty to accept unworthy
matches; if they are plain, they shall have enough to live upon
without husbands."

"That is easy enough for you, Charles," said the doctor, "who have
had your broad acres to support you, and no necessity for expenditure
or show of any kind; who might go from Monday morning till Saturday
night in home-spun, and never give any thing beyond home-brewed and
gooseberry wine, with a chance bottle of port to your visiters--while
I, Heaven help me! was obliged to dash in a well-appointed equipage,
entertain, and appear to be doing a great deal in my profession, when
a guinea would pine in solitude for a week together in