"That, my good woman, is quite a different story. As a magistrate I must not be a _friend_ to any one person more than to another; but must endeavour to act without favour or affection either to rich or poor. With respect to parochial relief, our business is to consider, as well as we are able, what the laws require and allow, and to act accordingly. Poor people often apply to us in great distress, and the relief which we can order seems but very little. If we listened to our own feelings, our own _good-nature_ as you would call it, we should often be glad to order much more, but we must not indulge such feelings at another man's expense--we must not be _good-natured_ with other people's money." "But, Sir," said Betty Horseman, "I only wanted about a shilling a week more, and I'm sure that can't hurt the farmers." "Whether it is much or little," said Mr. Bentley, "we cannot order more, than the law, in our opinion, appears to require. Knowingly to order more than that, is to rob those out of whose pockets the poor rates are paid. You would not wish me, Betty, to help you in picking a man's pocket." "But it is so little that I ask for," said Betty, still harping upon the same string. "We may not pick a man's pocket of sixpence, any more than of a hundred pounds. Your application shall be heard presently, Betty, and we will give it the best attention we can. If we think that you ought to have more, we will order it.--But you must remember, that if you have a shilling a week more, every family in the like circumstances will expect the same, which will make your shilling a week a pretty round sum. In short, I am always glad as far as I can to help a poor person out of my own pocket, but must consider well before I help him out of the pockets of other people." Mr. Bentley now joined his brother magistrates in the justice-room. The licensing business came on first; and the licences to the old established houses having been renewed, the applications for _new_ houses were taken into consideration. Fowler produced his certificate. "This certificate," said Mr. Hale the chairman, "has not the clergyman's name; how happens that?" Farmer Barton was at Fowler's elbow, and immediately answered, "Mr. Hooker has laid down a rule not to set his hand to an application of this sort, and could not break through it--but I'm sure he has no objection." "And besides," said one of the justices, "if my memory does not deceive me, there was a man of that name in your parish who was a noted poacher." "Why, I must confess," said the farmer, "that some time back the poor man was led by distress to go out once or twice; but he has, long ago, given it up, and is now quite an altered character.--When a man has seen his fault, and turned over a new leaf, I am sure, gentlemen, that you are too _good-natured_ to bring it up against him."