It may not be noticed. You see, fortunately, it is not a paper that circulates much in religious circles. THEODORE TRAVERS. Not as a rule. This week will probably be an exception. MR. BEN DIXON. I wish you wouldn't harp so on the gloomy side of it, Theo. We will put our trust in Providence. THEODORE TRAVERS. I should. I've noticed that it's generally on the side of the rogues. (_Strolls towards window._) Don't let the thing lie about. Where's the mater? (_Ben Dixon does not answer_.) In the garden? MR. BEN DIXON. Yes--no. I don't know--I don't know where she is. THEODORE TRAVERS. Poor old Ben! (_Goes out into garden._) MR. BEN DIXON. If this gets about I'm done for. What can I do? If it only weren't such a good likeness, or if there was only another member of the Vigilance Society something like me I might put it on to him. (_Mrs. Ben Dixon has entered. She has sat down, without noticing it, on the paper in arm-chair_.) I do hope Belinda won't---- (_Turns round and sees Mrs. Ben Dixon_.) MRS. BEN DIXON. I want a business chat with you, Ben. MR. BEN DIXON. Where's that paper? (_Looks frantically about for the paper_.) MRS. BEN DIXON. What's the matter? Lost anything? MR. BEN DIXON. No, oh no, my dear, nothing at all. (Aside.) Did he take it with him--or is she sitting on it? MRS. BEN DIXON. I want something settled about Ted and Nelly. MR. BEN DIXON. Certainly, my dear, certainly. Won't you sit over here, my dear? That chair looks so uncomfortable. MRS. BEN DIXON. The chair's all right. It's you who seem to be uncomfortable. (_Looks round and sees him leaning over the back of the chair looking down into it_.) What is it? Am I sitting on anything? (_About to rise_.) MR. BEN DIXON. (_Rather alarmed._) No, my dear, nothing whatever. Don't you rise. It's all right. You were speaking about those dear children, Ted and Nelly? MRS. BEN DIXON. Difficult to remember what one is talking about with you pirouetting all over the place like a pantomime fairy. I wanted to talk to you about what we could do for them. They are going back to-morrow morning, and---- (_He peers under the table for the paper._) I'll tell you what it is, Ben, you are doing too much work on that Vigilance Association. It's sapping your brain. Do give the world a rest. Let it go wrong for a bit if it wants to. MR. BEN DIXON. I wish I could, my dear. I worry myself too much about others, I know. MRS. BEN DIXON. Yes, and I expect that's what the others think too. This is a case where you can trouble yourself about other folks to some advantage--to _them_. We must do something for those children, Ben. It was your fault they lost their money. We must see that they get some thing back again. MR. BEN DIXON. But, you see, my dear, they are both so proud. To offer them help would only be to wound them. We should never, Belinda, do anything to wound the susceptibilities of others. MRS. BEN DIXON.