human
What must be done. Johanna?
gpt
I see but one thing--to get him home.
human
No, not that. I will never agree to it.--We can not help him. He does not deserve helping. If the debts were for food now, or any necessaries; but for mere luxuries, mere fine clothes; it is his tailor who has arrested him, you know. I would rather have gone in rags! I would rather see us all in rags!--It's mean, selfish, cowardly, and I despise him for it. Though he is my own flesh and blood, I despise him.
gpt
Hilary!
human
No. and the tears burst from her angry eyes,
gpt
I don't mean that I despise him. I'm sorry for him: there is good in him, poor dear lad; but I despise his weakness; I feel fierce to think how much it will cost us all, and especially you, Johanna. Only think what comforts of all sorts that thirty pounds would have brought to you!
human
God will provide, said Johanna, earnestly.
gpt
But I know, my dear, this is sharper to you than to me. Besides, I have been more used to it.
human
Pay me what thou owest!
gpt
But things can not again be so bad as those days, Hilary. Ascott is young; he may mend. People can mend, my child; and he had such a different bringing up from what his father had, and his grandfather, too. We must not be hopeless yet. You see, and making Hilary kneel down before her, she took her by both hands, as if to impart something of her own quietness to this poor heart, struggling as young, honest, upright hearts do struggle with something which their whole nature revolts against, and loathes, and scorns--
human
Deeds, not words I don't believe in words.
gpt
Well, let us put aside believing, and only act. Let us give him another chance.
human
Another, and another, and another--it will be always the same. I know it will. I can't tell how it is, Johanna; but whenever I look at you, I feel so stern and hard to Ascott. It seems as if there were circumstances when pity to some, to one, was wicked injustice to others: as if there were times when it is right and needful to lop off, at once and forever, a rotten branch rather than let the whole tree go to rack and ruin. I would do it! I should think myself justified in doing it.
gpt
But not just yet. He is only a boy--our own boy.