He stepped lightly before Annie and Mrs. Munger, and pushed open the ground-glass door of his office for them. It was like a bank parlour, except for Mrs. Gerrish sitting in her husband's leather-cushioned swivel chair, with her last-born in her lap; she greeted the others noisily, without trying to rise. “You see we are quite at home here,” said Mr. Gerrish. “Yes, and very snug you are, too,” said Mrs. Munger, taking one half of the leather lounge, and leaving the other half to Annie. “I don't wonder Mrs. Gerrish likes to visit you here.” Mr. Gerrish laughed, and said to his wife, who moved provisionally in her chair, seeing he had none, “Sit still, my dear; I prefer my usual perch.” He took a high stool beside a desk, and gathered a ruler in his hand. “Well, I may as well begin at the beginning,” said Mrs. Munger, “and I'll try to be short, for I know that these are business hours.” “Take all the time you want, Mrs. Munger,” said Mr. Gerrish affably. “It's my idea that a good business man's business can go on without him, when necessary.” “Of course!” Mrs. Munger sighed. “If everybody had your _system_, Mr. Gerrish!” She went on and succinctly expounded the scheme of the Social Union. “I suppose I can't deny that the idea occurred to _me_,” she concluded, “but we can't hope to develop it without the co-operation of the ladies of Old Hatboro', and I've come, first of all, to Mrs. Gerrish.” Mr. Gerrish bowed his acknowledgments of the honour done his wife, with a gravity which she misinterpreted. “I think,” she began, with her censorious manner and accent, “that these people have too much done for them _now_. They're perfectly spoiled. Don't you, Annie?” Mr. Gerrish did not give Annie time to answer. “I differ with you, my dear,” he cut in. “It is my opinion--Or I don't know but you wish to confine this matter entirely to the ladies?” he suggested to Mrs. Munger. “Oh, I'm only too proud and glad that you feel interested in the matter!” cried Mrs. Munger. “Without the gentlemen's practical views, we ladies are such feeble folk--mere conies in the rocks.” “I am as much opposed as Mrs. Gerrish--or any one--to acceding to unjust demands on the part of my clerks or other employees,” Mr. Gerrish began. “Yes, that's what I mean,” said his wife, and broke down with a giggle. He went on, without regarding her: “I have always made it a rule, as far as business went, to keep my own affairs entirely in my own hands. I fix the hours, and I fix the wages, and I fix all the other conditions, and I say plainly, 'If you don't like them, 'don't come,' or 'don't stay,' and I never have any difficulty.” “I'm sure,” said Mrs. Munger, “that if all the employers in the country would take such a stand, there would soon be an end of labour troubles. I think we're too concessive.”