"I have no doubt you never will," said his father. "Unless you can't help yourself."
"Is there any good reason, sir, why you should not have proper servants in the house?"
"A very good reason," said Mr. Rossitur. "Fleda would be in despair."
"Is there none beside that?" said Charlton dryly.
"None--except a trifling one," Mr. Rossitur answered in the same tone.
"We cannot afford it, dear Charlton," said his mother softly.
There was a silence, during which Fleda moralized on the ways people take to make themselves uncomfortable.
"Does that man--to whom you let the farm--does he do his duty?"
"I am not the keeper of his conscience."
"I am afraid it would be a small charge to any one," said Fleda.