If the young fellow stopped here he would always be a trouble, and a bone of contention between himself and his wife.

Besides, for Alice's sake, it was clearly his duty to get the fellow out of the way.

Girls, Mr.
Anthony considered, were always falling in love with the very last people in the world with whom they should do so, and out of sheer contrariety it was more than possible that Alice might take a fancy for this penniless vagabond, and if she did Mrs.Anthony was fool enough to support her in her folly.
Of course there would be trouble with his wife when she found what had happened to the lad--for the mayor did not deceive himself for a moment by the thought that he would be able to conceal from his wife the cause of Jack's absence; he was too well aware of Mrs.Anthony's power of investigation.

Still, after it was done it could not be undone, and it was better to have one domestic storm than a continuation of foul weather.
Calling in his clerk the mayor read over to him the order he had received, and bade him turn to the court book and make out a list of the names of forty young men who had been charged before him with offenses of drunkenness, assault, battery and rioting.
"When you have made up the list, Johnson, you will go round to the aldermen and inform them of the order that I have received from the government, and you can tell them that if there are any persons they know of whom they consider that Southampton would be well rid, if they will send the names to me I will add them to the list.

Bid them not to choose married men, if it can be avoided, for the town would be burdened with the support of their wives and families.