"But still," said another voice from a sweet-faced woman who had not yet spoken, "still, isn't it a pity that we should get together so often year after year simply to study the Greeks and Romans and the arts and the sciences, and never study the city in which we live, its needs, its condition, its degradation? It is possible we are not studying the most important things of life in our clubs." Mrs. Lewis looked at the speaker thoughtfully. "I have been thinking of that also." Every one in the room looked surprised. Mrs. Lewis went on: "We could raise a great deal of money in our clubs if we once determined to share in this redemption of Freetown." "We might change the name of our club to the United Missionary Society," said a sarcastic voice. "I beg to be excused, ladies, if you are going to take up Freetown and try to reform it." "Look at Mrs. Carlton and Inez," said another. "Isn't that a seven days' wonder?" "No greater than Mr. Brooks or Judge Vernon. The judge must be made of strange material." "I was talking with Isabel--." "But, ladies," cried Mrs. Lewis, "what do you think we ought to do about the matter of helping Mr. Douglass?" "What do _you_ think?" "I am in favor of it. What have we ever done as a club for the real uplift of the city where it needs the most help? We have a membership in the United Clubs of nearly one thousand members. If each of us gave one dollar, that would go a long way toward supporting the social settlement for a year." Again there was an expressive silence. There was assent on some faces, disapproval on others. Mrs. Lewis was about to go on, when she was suddenly called out of the room. The discussion continued after she was gone. It grew more animated throughout the afternoon and evening. The social settlement in Freetown became the one exciting theme of conversation. There was one large element that seemed ready to go with the president and pledge the United Clubs to the support of the work. There was another decided group of women who refused to entertain the idea of making such a radical change in the programme of regular club life. When the reception was over and every one had gone home, it was entirely uncertain whether Mrs. Lewis would be able to use her influence to persuade the United Clubs to take an active part in the work of redeeming Freetown. Mrs. Lewis sat very thoughtful in her house that evening. Several times she said to herself: "O, we might, we ought. Surely we are not using our time and our strength to the highest advantage." But, after all, she was unable to tell whether her influence was strong enough to carry the majority of the clubs with her.