Page:Edgar Jepson--the four philanthropists.djvu/44

38 was new to him; but he tumbled to it like a brick from a scaffolding. He saw his way to scooping up Pudleigh's share of the Fertilizer boodle before you could wink twice; and it was merely a matter of haggling about terms. I had a fight to get him to make it two thousand; and Pudleigh has to be removed before Monday." "Two thousand seems a poor subscription towards the removal of a financier," said I. "But, by Jove, it will make things look up in Plaistow! Of course we're only starting in philanthropy; and I suppose we must be content with small beginnings."

"As long as we are doing the actual work ourselves we may make up our minds that we shan't be getting large subscriptions. You only obtain large sums when other people are doing work for you, and you are seeing that they do it. Still it's no good grumbling, though it is depressing to see brainy men like us doing our own philanthropic deeds, when there are so many people, in and out of gaol, ready and waiting to do them under our direction. Philanthropic labor is so cheap, too," said Chelubai, and he sighed.

"Never mind," I said. "We must have time. We can't expect to succeed in a great mission in a day. Let us be thankful that we have made such a good beginning."

"Don't be too hopeful about the beginning.