\"i should think you were rather a restraint on your hosts\" conversation.

they can\"t abuse the masters while you\"re there. i suspect they take itout on non-hot-pot days.\"

\"well! hitherto we\"ve steered clear of all vexed questions. but if any ofthe old disputes came up again, i would certainly speak out my mindnext hot-pot day. but you are hardly acquainted with our darkshirefellows, for all you\"re a darkshire man yourself they hāve such a senseof humour, and such a racy mode of expression! i am getting really toknow some of them now, and they talk pretty freely before me.\"

\"nothing like the act of eating for equalising men. dying is nothing to it.

the philosopher dies sententiously--the pharisee ostentatiously--thesimple-hearted humbly--the poor idiot blindly, as the sparrow falls tothe ground; the philosopher and idiot, publican and pharisee, all eatafter the same fashion--given an equally good digestion. there\"s theoryfor theory for you!\"

\"indeed i hāve no theory; i hate theories.\"

\"i beg your pardon. to show my penitence, will you accept a ten poundnote towards your marketing, and give the poor fellows a feast?\"

\"thank you; but i\"d rather not. they pay me rent for the oven andcooking-places at the back of the mill: and will hāve to pay more for thenew dining-room. i don\"t want it to fall into a charity. i don\"t wantdonations. once let in the principle, and i should hāve people going,and talking, and spoiling the simplicity of the whole thing.\"

\"people will talk about any new plan. you can\"t help that.\"

\"my enemies, if i hāve any, may make a philanthropic fuss about thisdinner-scheme; but you are a friend, and i expect you will pay myexperiment the respect of silence. it is but a new broom at present, andsweeps clean enough. but by-and-by we shall meet with plenty ofstumbling-blocks, no doubt.\"

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