When I married, I found that my brother was even at that time heavily in
debt. Heavily for him, I mean. Heavily enough to oblige me to sell some
trinkets. They were no sacrifice. I sold them very willingly. I attached no
value to them. They were quite worthless to me.«
    Either she saw in his face that he knew, or she only feared in her
conscience that he knew, that she spoke of some of her husband's gifts. She
stopped, and reddened again. If he had not known it before, he would have known
it then, though he had been a much duller man than he was.
    »Since then, I have given my brother, at various times, what money I could
spare: in short, what money I have had. Confiding in you at all, on the faith of
the interest you profess for him, I will not do so by halves. Since you have
been in the habit of visiting here, he has wanted in one sum as much as a
hundred pounds. I have not been able to give it to him. I have felt uneasy for
the consequences of his being so involved, but I have kept these secrets until
now, when I trust them to your honour. I have held no confidence with any one,
because - you anticipated my reason just now.« She abruptly broke off.
    He was a ready man, and he saw, and seized, an opportunity here of
presenting her own image to her, slightly disguised as her brother.
    »Mrs. Bounderby, though a graceless person, of the world worldly, I feel the
utmost interest, I assure you, in what you tell me. I cannot possibly be hard
upon your brother. I understand and share the wise consideration with which you
regard his errors. With all possible respect both for Mr. Gradgrind and for Mr.
Bounderby, I think I perceive that he has not been fortunate in his training.
Bred at a disadvantage towards the society in which he has his part to play, he
rushes into these extremes for himself, from opposite extremes that have long
been forced - with the very best intentions we have no doubt - upon him. Mr.
Bounderby's fine bluff English independence, though a most charming
characteristic, does not - as we have agreed - invite confidence. If I might
venture to remark that it is the least in the world deficient in that delicacy
to which a youth mistaken, a character misconceived, and abilities misdirected,
would turn for relief and guidance, I should express what
