rout from this dry old root," said
Mr Tippet, interrupting, as he glanced round the room with an air of
affection, which showed that he loved the root dearly, despite its age
and dryness.

"Not the less thanks to you, sir," said Willie, in the deferential tone
which he had assumed involuntarily towards his patron almost from the
commencement of their intercourse; "but Z---a--Miss Cattley positively
refuses to accept of money from anyone in charity, as long as she can
work."

"Ah!" exclaimed Mr Tippet, shaking his head slowly, "pride, simple
pride. Not laudable pride, observe. She deceives herself, no doubt,
into the belief that it is laudable, but it is not; for, when a girl
cannot work without working herself into her grave, it is her duty _not_
to work, and it is the duty as well as the privilege of her friends to
support her. Truth is truth, Willie, and we must not shrink from
stating it because a few illogical thinkers are apt to misunderstand it,
or because there are a number of mean-spirited wretches who would be too
glad to say that they could not work without injuring their health if
they could, by so doing, persuade their friends to support them. What!
are those whom God has visited with weakness of body to be made to toil
and moil far beyond their strength in order to prove that they do not
belong to the class of deceivers and sycophants? Yet public opinion in
regard to this matter of what is called self-respect and proper pride
compels many hundreds who urgently require assistance to refuse it, and
dooms many of them to a premature grave, while it does not shut the maw
of a single one of the other class. Why, sir, Miss Cattley is
committing suicide; and, in regard to her father, who is dependent on
her, she is committing murder--murder, sir!"

Mr Tippet's eyes flashed with indignation, and he drove the chisel deep
down into the bench, as if to give point and force to his sentiment, as
well as an illustration of the dreadful idea with which he concluded.

Willie admitted that there was much truth in Mr Tippet's observations,
but did not quite agree with him in his sweeping condemnation of Ziza.

"However," continued Mr Tippet, resuming his quiet tone and benignant
aspect, "I'll consider the matter. Yes, I'll consider the matter and
see what's to be done for 'em."

He leaped from the bench with a quiet chuckle as he said this and began
to saw vigorously, while Willie went to his desk in the corner