“Squires’ hobbies are generally like the silver trough the lady gave her sow,” said Mrs. Duncombe; “they come before the poor are prepared, and with a spice of the autocrat.”
“Come, I won’t have you shock Mrs. Charnock Poynsett,” said Lady Tyrrell. “You illogical woman! The poor are to demand better houses, and the squires are not to build them!”
“The poor are to be fitly housed, as a matter of right, and from their own sense of self-respect,” returned Mrs. Duncombe; “not a few favourites, who will endure dictation, picked out for the model cottage. It is the hobby system against which I protest.”
“Without quite knowing what was conveyed by it in this instance?” said Lady Tyrrell. “I am sure there is nothing I wish more than that we had any power of improvement of the cottages here; but influence is our only weapon.”
“By the bye, Mrs. Poynsett,” continued Mrs. Duncombe, “will you give a hint to Mrs. Miles Charnock that it will never do to preach to the women at the working-room? I don’t mean holding forth,” she added, seeing Cecil’s look of amazement; “but improving the occasion, talking piously, giving tracts, and so forth.”
“I thought you gave sanitary tracts!” said Lady Tyrrell.
“That is quite different.”
“I doubt whether the women would see the distinction. A little book is a tract to them.”
“I would abstain rather than let our work get a goody reputation for indoctrinating sectarianism. It would be all up with us; we might as well keep a charity school.”
“I don’t think the women dislike it,” said Cecil.