So she was not always as sympathetic to this second appeal for information as she might have been.
"I'll warrant, John," she answered a little judicially, "that Jane is at some of the quality houses tonight; and she'll be singing or dancing or playing bridge with one or other of that pale, rakish lot I see when I drive through the town." "Mother!" "Yes, John, a bad, idle, lounging lot, that don't do a day's work to pay for their living." "They are likely gentlemen, mother, who have no work to do." "Gentlemen! No, indeed! I will give them the first four letters of the word--no more.

They are not gentlemen, but they may be _gents_.

We don't expect much from _gents_, and how the women of today stand them beats me." John laughed a little, but he said he was weary and would go to his room.

And as he stood at Mrs.Hatton's side, telling her that he was glad to be with her again, she found herself in the mood that enabled her to say, "John, my dear lad, you will soon marry, either Jane or some other woman.

You must do it, you know, for you must have sons and daughters, that you may inherit the promise of God's blessing which is for you and _your children_.