"But there is no compulsion?"
"Certainly not. On this point every one is free. You may remain in your present grade if you please."
"Then I confess to you I don't see why I should change," Brand said, frankly. "Cannot I work as well for you just as I am?"
"Perhaps; perhaps not," said the other, easily. "But you perceive, further, that the fact of our not exacting subscriptions from the poorer members of our association makes it all the more necessary that we should have voluntary gifts from the richer. And as regards a surplus of wealth, of what use is that to any one? Am I not granted as much money as one need reasonably want? And just now there
is more than ever a need of money for the general purposes of the Society: Lord Evelyn gave us a thousand pounds last week."
Brand flushed red.
"I wish you had told me," he said; "I would rather have given you five thousand. You know he cannot afford it."
"The greater the merit of the sacrifice," said his companion calmly.
This proposal was so audacious that George Brand was still a little bewildered; but the fact was that, while listening very respectfully to Mr. Lind, he had been thinking more about Natalie; and it was the most natural thing in the world that some thought of her should now intervene.
"Another thing, Mr. Lind," said he, though he was rather embarrassed. "Even if I were to make such a sacrifice, as far as I am concerned; if I were to run the risk for myself alone, that might all be very well; but supposing I were to marry, do you think I should like my wife to run such a risk—do you think I should be justified in allowing her? And surely you ought not to ask me. It is your own daughter—"