'What do you feel about it, all of you over here?
It's a big question, you know, that of the housing of the poor.' 'Well, I can't say, sir,' said Thomas, compelled to a guarded opinion.
'Things do look black for the lower horders.' 'You're right, Thomas; and things will go on looking black for helpless people until they determine to help themselves, or until people who aren't helpless--like you and me--determine they shan't be so black.' 'Yes, sir.' 'Talk it over, you know.

Get your friends interested in it.

It's a mighty big subject, of course, that of the State and its poor, but it's wonderful what can be done by personal initiative.' Helen entered at this point, and Thomas turned a furtive eye upon her, perhaps in appeal for protection against these unprovoked and inexplicable attacks.

'One might think the gentleman thought I had a vote and was canvassing me,' he said to Baines, condescending in this their common perplexity.

And Baines replied: 'I'm sure I don't know what he's up to.' Meanwhile Franklin, in the dining-room, folded his paper and said: 'You know, Miss Buchanan, that Thomas, though a nice fellow, is remarkably ignorant.