'Wych, it will flow away with the speed of mountain brooks; and in as many and as inevitable channels.' 'But I want to know where it goes. And I have been studying the question out. I want to send some of it _everywhere_, and take up bonds all over the world!' 'That greed will make you at last learn economy!' said Dane smiling. 'Will it? I do not know. You mean that I cannot reach round the world, even with ten thousand a year? But if all hands are stretched out, they will meet and so go round. To be sure, everybody cannot afford so much,' said Hazel thoughtfully; 'and so my hands must reach just as far as they possibly can.' 'Ten thousand a year has more to fall back upon,' Dane suggested. 'Yes. I am talking of _my_ power,' said Hazel with a laugh. 'You see I have been reading up, and listening, and thinking, all winter. All I find that the 'where,' is everywhere; and the 'how,' in every way; and the 'what'—just "what she could." Then there is another thing— But you are not obliged to listen to all this!' said Hazel, checking the flow of her projects. 'I think you must be coquetting—like Jeannie Deans when she goes over a bridge.' 'It was left for you to say that!' said Hazel with a glance. 'Nobody else ever did. However—I read a story once which I thought simply beautiful,—and last night it suddenly announced itself as practical. You remember how pleasant it was last night?' 'I remember very well.' 'In my story the people gave up one evening a week. On that night they always had a particular good tea, and at least one invited guest. The head of the house brought home one of his deserving clerks, suppose,—or perhaps some poor acquaintance who never saw—partridges, for instance—at any other time: somebody straitened in business and low in cash. Or he found at home, already arrived, a hard-worked teacher, or a poor girl left alone in the world with her needles and thread. But whoever it was, for that evening they were made to forget everything but pleasure.' 'One evening in a week,' repeated Dane. 'That is not much. You and I have given a great deal more of our time than that,—often,— to the German, for instance.' 'It might seem 'much'—with some people,' Hazel said thoughtfully. 'But it would be right to do.' 'Duchess, it would not be disagreeable. It is a good plan. Then one evening in the week we will invite our poor friends—have them to dinner and give them a good time. But for the rest, Hazel, except in particular instances, it will be best on every account to leave them to themselves; those who happen to be in the house, I speak of now. With books, and good care, and all comforts around them, and the freedom of the grounds, and drives when that would be needful. Nothing but necessity would make it right or expedient to have our home privacy broken up.'