Family and other Matters

"Missus and kids?" is his next question. "They needn't trouble you," I tell him. "You can let them all slide during the first ten years; the country will see to them. In the next five you may still desert them if you don't get more than four months or four sentences for it. In the last five years they can all accompany you on to the Benevolent, or as your children will all be over fourteen you can leave them to themselves; but you musn't run away from your wife for more than a year, or you lose your pension if she comes to the magistrate and tells." "But she won't!" he says significantly; "anything else?" "At the time of applying you have got to be of good moral character, and leading a sober and reputable life." He grins as he asks how much that means. "It's very vague," I reply, "and can't mean much. If you've not been in gaol or found drunk within the last year or two, and can get a publican to certify to your character, it ought to be enough." And as the last condition point out that at the time of applying his earnings must not exceed £1 a week, nor his capital £540. He has not been accustomed to take Government officials into his confidence in these matters, and during his career in England his professional income never figured in the schedules of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. He therefore sees no difficulty on this score.