It taught them not to be ashamed of parish pay-- to demand it as a right.' 'And so it is their right,' said Lancelot.

'In God's name, if a country is so ill-constituted that it cannot find its own citizens in work, it is bound to find them in food.' 'Maybe, sir, maybe.

God knows I don't grudge it them.

It's a poor pittance at best, when they have got it.

But don't you see, sir, how all poor-laws, old or new either, suck the independent spirit out of a man; how they make the poor wretch reckless; how they tempt him to spend every extra farthing in amusement ?' 'How then ?' 'Why, he is always tempted to say to himself, "Whatever happens to me, the parish must keep me.