“My activities? One of the good things in India?”
“Yes. To inspire us material, practical people with your wit, now and again.”
“Resident! You’re paying me compliments!... Is this all on account of the theatricals?”
“And to do good to Mother Staats with that wit of yours!”
“Couldn’t I do good in Europe?”
“Certainly, certainly,” he said, bluffly. “Go to Europe, mevrouw, by all means. Go and live at the Hague; join the Charity Organization Society ... with a collecting-box at your door and a rix-dollar ... how often?”
She laughed:
“Now you’re becoming unjust. They do a lot of good in Holland too.”
“But do they ever do in Holland for one distressed person ... what we, what you are now going to do for Mother Staats? And don’t tell me that there’s less poverty here.”
“Well?”