human
Then you refuse to accept it?
gpt
Yes. I refuse.
human
Helen.
gpt
You know that I am your true friend, that when I urge this upon you it is through no lack of desire on my part to supply you with all your heart could wish. You know that when I urged you to return to Braine, I thought of your happiness. You know this. As long as you are satisfied, this house and everything in it is yours, and all your wishes shall be fulfilled so far as I am able to do it; but I feel that there is a day coming when you will not be satisfied, living in this way; and then--in _money_ will be your only hope. I _must_ speak plainly, dear. It is for this reason that I entreat you to accept this provision which Braine offers. All that I have is at your disposal, but I have little in comparison with the wealth Braine wishes to place in your hands.
human
I do not want your wealth, or his. I want what you will not give me--love. Wealth will not take its place. If you cannot give me that, there is but one thing that can in any degree make it up to me--power. One or the other I must have. One or the other must help me to forget my ruined life--the life that _he_ has ruined, and now thinks to pay for with money.
gpt
You are wrong. He has sinned, but if ever a human being suffered and has tried to rectify his mistakes, he is the one. He has implored you to return. You have refused all overtures. You have returned his letters unopened. You have been unwilling to listen--
human
Very well. You cannot return to him? Then be merciful, let him make the little reparation in his power. Accept this money from him.
gpt
Never!
human
Why do you torment me in this way? Once you would have given half your life for my favor; now you are as unresponsive as a block of wood.
gpt
Not so, he says;
human
His crime was directed toward you--
gpt
And do you not see that this compels me to be generous? I cannot do that thing. This man has discovered his wrong and is repentant. I should be a dog if I refused to recognize the fact. He has converted everything he possesses in the world into money, and begs you to accept it. He leaves his home, and takes himself away from his fellows to live--this man who has swayed thousands with his eloquence, who has commanded the homage of all the country, who has held the affairs of the nation in his hands. This man has humbled himself, has forsworn it all, has buried his strength and his greatness and his talents in a little forsaken wilderness. God! I am an honor-loving man; I despise his crime, and my own; and yet, I doubt if I should be great enough for this. After all, he was guilty of nothing but what his associates are guilty of every day of their lives, and will continue in uninterruptedly and with less excuse; the difference--that one has met with retribution and the others have not. To-day I have more respect and reverence for this man who has been overtaken and repents, than for Grayson who has braved it through and is about to step into his place--
human
He would not be repenting in sackcloth and ashes if he had _not_ been overtaken.
gpt
Perhaps not; but he is repenting, with an humbler repentance than I believe even the Lord cares to accept.