"You haven't spoken of Mr. Micawber before, dear," said Elizabeth reproachfully. "I didn't know you had any friends in Australia."
"Mr. Micawber is a character in one of Mr. Charles Dickens' novels," he explained.
"Mr. Dickens who wrote the Christmas Carol?" Elizabeth asked.
"The same."
"He must be a very nice gentleman," was her murmured comment.
Edward laughed.
Mr. Fawcus according to himself had been reduced to emigration by the devotion of his energy, his talents, and his money to the great cause of popular education.
"My survey of history," he told Edward, "taught me that all the greatest human beings have been teachers. I determined, however humbly, to follow in their footsteps."
According to Mrs. Fawcus her husband's mistake had been first in wasting money on derelict schools, and secondly in destroying whatever chance such schools had of recovery by preaching in the open air of the locality on Sundays.