"Wholly outside of our sphere. We are neither a charity nor a church organization."
"It will break up our meetings for literary culture if we turn aside to do benevolent work."
"But still," said another voice from a sweet-faced woman who had not yet spoken, "still, isn't it a pity that we should get together so often year after year simply to study the Greeks and Romans and the arts and the sciences, and never study the city in which we live, its needs, its condition, its degradation? It is possible we are not studying the most important things of life in our clubs."
Mrs. Lewis looked at the speaker thoughtfully. "I have been thinking of that also." Every one in the room looked surprised. Mrs. Lewis went on: "We could raise a great deal of money in our clubs if we once determined to share in this redemption of Freetown."
"We might change the name of our club to the United Missionary Society," said a sarcastic voice. "I beg to be excused, ladies, if you are going to take up Freetown and try to reform it."
"Look at Mrs. Carlton and Inez," said another. "Isn't that a seven days' wonder?"
"No greater than Mr. Brooks or Judge Vernon. The judge must be made of strange material."
"I was talking with Isabel—."
"But, ladies," cried Mrs. Lewis, "what do you think we ought to do about the matter of helping Mr. Douglass?"
"What do you think?"