She would like--yes, I have the letter here--to give you, as a surprise, of course, either a new font or a carved pulpit; or perhaps a cheque; she wishes me on no account to mention it to you directly, but to ascertain indirectly from you, what would be the better surprise." "Oh, a cheque, I think," said the rector; "one can do so much more with it, after all." "Precisely," said his father; he was well aware of many things that can be done with a cheque that cannot possibly be done with a font.
"That's settled then," resumed Mr.Furlong; "and now I suppose you want me to run my eye over your quarterly statements, do you not, before we send them in to the trustees?
That is what you've come for, is it not ?" "Yes," said the rector, drawing a bundle of blue and white papers from his pocket.

"I have everything with me.

Our showing is, I believe, excellent, though I fear I fail to present it as clearly as it might be done." Mr.Furlong senior spread the papers on the table before him and adjusted his spectacles to a more convenient angle.

He smiled indulgently as he looked at the documents before him.
"I am afraid you would never make an accountant, Edward," he said.
"I fear not," said the rector.
"Your items," said his father, "are entered wrongly.

Here, for example, in the general statement, you put down Distribution of Coals to the Poor to your credit.