No doubt their own filth and bad living has brought disease upon them, if there's truth in the tale; and as to this strange woman, giving no testimony or certificate of her respectability, it's a queer thing if she's to begin and teach you religion and duty.

It's a bold and impudent letter, and I suppose you've enough sense left, with all your new fangles, to see that you can't do all she asks.

What do you think you can do?
If you think I'm going to pay for charity boxes to be sent to people I've no opinion of, when all the missionary subscriptions will be due come the new year, you think great nonsense, that's all." He brought his large hard hand down on the table, so that the board rang and the lamp quaked; then he settled his rounded shoulders stubbornly, and again unfurled the newspaper.
This strong declaration of wrath, and the reproaches concerning the money, were a relief to Caius.

A relief from what?
Had he contemplated for a moment taking his life in his hand and obeying the unexpected appeal?
Yet he felt no answering anger in return for the rebuke; he only found himself comfortably admitting that if his father put it on the score of expense he certainly had no right to give time or money that did not belong to him.

It was due to his parents that all his occupation should henceforth be remunerative.
He put the letter away in his pocket, but, perhaps because he laid it next his heart, the next day its cry awoke within him again, and would not be silenced.
Christianity was identified in his mind with an exclusive way of life, to him no longer good or true; but what of those stirring principles of Socialism that were abroad in the world, flaunting themselves as superior to Christianity?
He was a child of the age, and dared not deny its highest precepts.