persisted in your refusal of the paltry bit of paper which I before
prevailed on you to receive, what would you have said to yourself, what
would have been your remorse, when you found yourself unable to succour
the unfortunate, merely because you had been too proud to receive that
which you wanted, and which therefore you had no right to refuse. [You
see, Oliver, she snatched my own sword from my side, with which to
dispatch me. If thou art too dull to understand me, consult my last
letter.] You were ready to protect, though at the risk of your life,
those very persons at whose favours, as they are falsely called, your
spirit is so equally ready to revolt. Perhaps in defending us you did
no more than you ought; but we cannot be ignorant how few are capable
of doing so much. And, since you are thus prompt to perform all which
the most austere morality can require, so long as it shall be apparent
to the world that your motives are not selfish, proceed a step further;
disregard the world, and every being in it; that is, disregard their
mistakes; and, satisfied that your motives are pure, defy the false
interpretations to which any right action may subject you. Neither,
while you are actually discharging the highest offices of humanity,
deny to others the right to fulfil some of the most trivial.

I could not act otherwise than I did, on both the occasions to which
you allude, madam. I believe it is our duty always to be guided by
circumstances; but not to be guilty of an impropriety, because it is
possible such circumstances may again occur.

You are right. We only differ concerning the meaning of the word.
Impropriety, or propriety, we shall come to presently. You have
promised your wounded penitent money, to facilitate his escape, and you
have none.