human
You have the redress in your own hands, Sir Abel went on, not without a hint of annoyance.
gpt
If you need amusement, leisure, rest, they are all within your reach.
human
See now, my good friend, consider. To be practical --Sir Abel raised his finger and wagged it, with a heavy attempt at _bonhomie_.
gpt
You have no family to provide for?
human
No,
gpt
You are, in short, not married?
human
No, Sir Abel,
gpt
Well, then, no obstacle presents itself. But let us pause a moment, for I must guard myself against misconception. In the interests of both public and private morality I am a staunch advocate of marriage. Again he cleared his throat. The platform was conspicuous by its presence--in idea.
human
I hold matrimony to be among the primary duties, nay, to be the primary duty of the Christian and the citizen. We owe it to the race, we owe it to ourselves, we owe it to the opposite sex. Let us be quite clear on this point. Yet, since I deprecate all bigotry, I admit that there may be exceptional cases in which absence of the marital relation, though arguing some emotional callousness, may prove advantageous to the individual.
gpt
I do not deny this, Sir Abel continued.
human
I repeat, I do not deny it. And yours, my good friend, may be, I am prepared to acknowledge, a case in point. I take for granted, by the way, that you have saved, since your salary has been a liberal one?
gpt
Clearly we need discuss this matter no further then. The speaker became impressive, admonitory.
human
Indeed, it appears to me that your lot is a most favoured one. You are free of all encumbrances. You can retire in comfort--retire, moreover, with the assurance that your departure will cause no inconvenience to myself and my colleagues, since you make room for men younger and more in touch with modern methods than yourself.
gpt
Ah, yes! he said.
human
Possibly I had not taken that fact sufficiently into account.
gpt
Yet, clearly, it should augment your satisfaction, Sir Abel Barking observed, with a touch of severity.
human
And, by the by, you can draw your pension. You were entitled, strictly speaking, to do so some years ago--four, I believe, to be accurate. This was pointed out to you at the time by my nephew Reginald. He was not at all unwilling that you should retire then; but you preferred to remain. I had some conversation, at the time, with my nephew on the subject. I insisted upon the fact that your service had been exemplary. I finally succeeded in overruling his objection to your retaining your post.
gpt
I am evidently under a heavy obligation to you, Sir Abel,
human
Don't mention it--don't mention it, the great man answered nobly.
gpt
Those in power should try to exercise it to the benefit of their subordinates. It has always been my effort not only to be just, but to be considerate of the interests and feelings of persons in my employment.