Whilst you've been shutting yourself up in this room, there's Alice
living by herself, which it isn't right she should do; and there's
'Arry going to the bad as fast as he can, and just because you won't
help to look after him. If you'll only think of it in the right way,
you'll see that's a good deal your doing. If 'Arry turns out a scamp
and a blackguard, it's you that 'll be greatly to blame for it. You
might have helped to look after him. I always thought you'd more
common sense. You may say what you like about me, and I don't care;
but when you talk about working for your living, you ought to
remember that there's work enough near at hand, if only you'd see to
it.'
'I've nothing to do neither with you nor 'Arry nor Alice,' answered
the old woman stubbornly. 'If 'Arry disgraces his name, he won't be
the first as has done it. I done my best to bring you all up honest,
but that was a long time ago, and things has changed. You're old
enough to go your own ways, an' your ways isn't mine. I told you how
it 'ud be, an' the only mistake I made was comin' to live here at
all. Now I can't be left alone, an' I'll go. You've no call to tell
me a second time.'
It was a long, miserable wrangle, lasting half an hour, before a
possibility of agreement presented itself. Richard at length ceased
to recriminate, and allowed his mother to talk herself to satiety.
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