There is no especial need of haste."
It was pointed out to him that many of those desiring to adopt
children lived in distant states and cities, principally in small
towns or upon farms. It might be impossible for them to come to New
York to see him or the children. He still refused to give an inch.
And so the Society, satisfied that it had achieved a victory, set
about to find fathers and mothers for the nine Bingles, and Mr. Bingle
sat down to wait for the final struggle that was to come, or, more
properly speaking, for the nine separate struggles that lay ahead of
him. The children were told what they might expect in the near future,
and Mr. Bingle's heart was sorely hurt by the very evident enthusiasm
with which they received the news. The younger ones, swept along by
the current, and less subtle than their elders, plied Mr. Bingle with
a hundred eager, innocent questions, and every one of them seemed to
look upon the coming separation as a lark! It was not unusual to catch
two or three of the older ones slyly, but excitedly discussing the
prospective change, and always they averted their eyes and dropped
their voices when Mr.
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