"I must say, however, I should have preferred you
had not _shown_ quite such an anxiety about it. I sha'n't be
in my coffin to-morrow; and I'm not in the way of forgetting
things."
"I _beg_ you," returned Mary, flushing, "to do nothing of
the sort. I have plenty of money, and don't care about more. I
would much rather not have any from you."
"But think how much good you might do with it!" said Mr. Redmain,
satirically. "--It was come by honestly--so far as I know."
"Money can't do half the good people think. It is stubborn stuff
to turn to any good. And in this case it would be directly
against good."
"Nobody has a right to refuse what comes honestly in his way.
There's no end to the good that may be done with money--to judge,
at least, by the harm I've done with mine," said Mr. Redmain,
this time with seriousness.
"It is not in it," persisted Mary. "If it had been, our Lord
would have used it, and he never did."
"Oh, but he was all an exception!"
"On the contrary, he is the only man who is no exception. We are
the exceptions. Every one but him is more or less out of the
straight. Do you not see?--he is the very one we must all come to
be the same as, or perish! No, Mr. Redmain! don't leave me any
money, or I shall be altogether bewildered what to do with it.
Mrs. Redmain would not take it from me. Miss Yolland might, but I
dared not give it to her.
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