"When I came home, which is now about two or three years ago, still breathing the comparative freedom of other lands, the first thing in our own country which attracted my attention was the exceptionally bad social condition of our labourers and mechanics.

Their houses and food, the bringing-up of their children, their teaching and education, in fact, everything which belonged to them, fell far short of what I thought it ought to be." "I have often thought upon the same subject," rejoined Rachel.

"But father says it is the fault of the people themselves; they are so greatly opposed to change." "That is one of your most excellent father's worst prejudices.

However, I began by getting up a society, which with us is no easy matter.

All went well at first, and then a president had to be chosen.