"I shouldn't be in haste to forbid you, Mr. Kershaw, if you seemed inclined to take that course," said the minister, with a smile. "But, if you come within measurable distance of the example of our friend, you will do very well." "But," pleaded Mr. Botterill, "ought we not to consider our wives and families?" "You do, Mr. Botterill, you do," was the somewhat sharp reply. "But there still remains ample scope for the claims of God." Upon this, there ensued a pause, which was at length broken by Mr. Caske, who, whatever might be his shortcomings, was not an ill-natured man. "Well, sir," he remarked, good-humouredly, "you've hit us hard." "I am glad you are sensible of the fact," was the pleasant reply. "No doubt you are!" rejoined Mr. Caske, in a somewhat jaunty tone. "And I suppose you intend now to give us an opportunity of following your advice?" "Why, yes," said Mr. Durnford, with a smile, "I really came to ask you for the payment of certain subscriptions now due. It is time I was making up some of the quarterly payments. But, perhaps, after what has been said, you would like to take a day or two----?" "No, for my part," interposed Mr. Caske, "I don't want any time. I'll double my subscriptions at once." "Same here," said Mr. Kershaw, concisely. "Thank you, gentlemen!" said Mr. Durnford, briskly, entering the amounts in his note book. "Now, Mr. Botterill." "Well," was the reluctant response, "I suppose I shall have to follow suit." Mr. Durnford smiled. "Thank you, gentlemen, all," he said. "Keep that up, and it will afford you more pleasure than you think." When, shortly afterwards, the minister took his departure, the three friends resumed their smoking; but they did not return to their criticism of "the Golden Shoemaker." CHAPTER XXXII. "IN LABOURS MORE ABUNDANT." Unlike many wealthy professors of religion, "the Golden Shoemaker" did not suppose that, in giving his money to the various funds of the church, he fulfilled, as far as he was concerned, all the claims of the Cause of Christ. He did not imagine that he could purchase, by means of his monetary gifts, exemption from the obligation to engage in active Christian work. He did not desire to be thus exempt. His greatest delight was to be directly and actively employed in serving his Divine Lord; and so little did he think of availing himself of the occasion of his sudden accession to wealth to withdraw from actual participation in the service of Christ, that he hailed with intense joy the richer opportunities of service with which he was thus supplied.