your own assurance that you do not. You would not, it seems, scruple to rob your poor grandchildren to gratify a whim; indeed, it may be said you have robbed them to gratify one. If I had to prosecute you before a jury of twelve of your honest countrymen, I could easily get you put into prison."
"Well, sir," said the old charwoman, beginning to tremble violently before this grim realism, "I—I am sure I have always tried to do my duty."
"On the contrary, Mrs. Brown, you can scarcely be said to have a conception of what is your duty. At least the best that can be said for that conception is that it is arbitrary, perverse, contradictory. Expedience is the only duty known to the laws which regulate all forms of nature. The man called Jesus, the chief exponent of the contrary doctrine which appears to have had some kind of attraction for you, received a somewhat severe handling when He ventured to show Himself upon the platform; and you who in your dumb and vague and invertebrate manner have been seeking to imitate Him in one or two minor particulars, owe it to the generous forbearance of the recipient of your charity that you do not find yourself in prison. If the Crown in its expansive vindictiveness were to instruct me to prosecute you in what it is pleased to call a 'court of justice,' woe would betide you."
The old woman grew as pale as ashes when confronted with the stern eyes of this advocate who turned white into black so easily.
"Why—why, sir," she stammered, "you—you will make me think I have committed a murder if you go on!"
"I think I might do that without much diffi-
