human
Well, she said at last, with a little movement of impatience,
gpt
When one commits a crime, replied John gravely,
human
How could she go? interrupted Rhoda indignantly.
gpt
Think of her condition, and of the misery and disgrace of following his fortunes. He is a base man indeed.
human
I suppose you'll be very hard on me, he said at length,
gpt
Oh, John, said Rhoda severely,
human
I am really ashamed of you! What has come to your moral perceptions? There is a saying that the way to hell is paved with good intentions;--of course this man will try to excuse himself. The world has got into a habit of petting its criminals, and it is one of the worst signs of the times. As Mrs. Elton used to say, it would be well if we could have the good old days back again!
gpt
The good old days when men were hung for sheep-stealing, and starving women were sentenced to death for taking a loaf! retorted John with unusual heat.
human
How I hate to hear that cant about the good old days! And when the gallows and the pillory and the stocks were so busy, did they stop the Mohawks in their fiendish pranks at night? or did they put down the Gordon riots till the mob had begun to sack and pillage London? I am glad the world is changed, and I hope it will go on changing.
gpt
If we change from over-severity to over-mercy, we shall just have to go back to over-severity again,
human
No, Rhoda, he said more calmly.
gpt
By that time we shall have got to the days 'when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the seas.'