Then Peterkin put on the spectacles. “Ah! I see,” said he, “a son may love his mother, but his love must not interfere with his duty to other men. The glasses say that every man should try and leave the world something the better for his coming; that many fail and but few succeed, yet that all must strive.”
“So be it,” said Gredel. “Go forth into the world, my son, and leave me hopeful here alone.”
“The glasses say that the sense of duty done is the greatest happiness in the world,” said Peterkin.
Then Gredel looked again through the glasses.
“I see,” said she; “the glasses say it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. Go forth into the world, my son: we shall both be the happier for having done our duty.”
So out into the world went Peterkin.
What else is there to tell? Why, who can write of to-morrow?
By the way, you should know that amongst the very wise folk sister Trot is known as “Industry,” sister Pansy as “Foresight,” while honest Satchel is generally called “Economy.”
Out For the Afternoon