"Oh, Doctor!" exclaimed Mrs. Farrell, in alarm. "You don't say so. I do hope it will be looked after soon!"
Mrs. Pomeroy, however, remarked that, for her part, she thought the poor people seemed very happy and comfortable, so far as she came in contact with them, in connection with the Clothing Club.
Mr. Archer smiled again. "By the way, Mr. Pomeroy," he remarked, "have you seen the new paper?"
"What new paper?" inquired the host.
"The Brotherhood, the new champion of the oppressed and down-trodden workmen! I tell you, you manufacturers will have to look out. You'll be brought to book for all your iniquities."
"Yes, I believe I did see a wretched little sheet of that name somewhere, started by some crank. But of course, I haven't time to look at such things."
"Ah," said Mr. Chillingworth, "I suppose that is the paper a young man came to canvass me for! I don't know whether he wanted me to take it or to write for it. But I see he has sent it to me."
"Oh, both, Mr. Chillingworth!" retorted Mr. Archer, smiling with mock persuasiveness. "The editor of it, Mr. Roland Graeme, is well known to me; in fact, I have the honor of having him at present in my office, and I can answer for him that he would be delighted to accept any contributions from your pen."
"Or from mine, say," remarked Mr. Wharton.
"I'm not so sure about you! You are too much on the philosophical tack! You wouldn't have enough sympathy. The Brotherhood, you know, is founded on the idea of Christian fellow-feeling."