" It's my belief they only keep it because it's poetry; that and
the wigs--they're hard up for a bit of beauty in the Courts of Law.
Excuse my 'and, sir; I do thank you for that article.
He extends his wiped hand, which MR MARCH shakes with the feeling
that he is always shaking Mr. BLY's hand.
MR MARCH. But, apropos of your daughter, Mr Bly. I suppose none of us
ever change our natures.
BLY. [Again responding to the appeal that he senses to his philosophical
vein] Ah! but 'oo can see what our natures are? Why, I've known people
that could see nothin' but theirselves and their own families, unless
they was drunk. At my daughter's trial, I see right into the lawyers,
judge and all. There she was, hub of the whole thing, and all they could
see of her was 'ow far she affected 'em personally--one tryin' to get 'er
guilty, the other tryin' to get 'er off, and the judge summin' 'er up
cold-blooded.
MR MARCH. But that's what they're paid for, Mr Bly.
BLY. Ah! But which of 'em was thinkin' "'Ere's a little bit o' warm
life on its own. 'Ere's a little dancin' creature. What's she feelin',
wot's 'er complaint?"--impersonal-like. I like to see a man do a bit of
speculatin', with his mind off of 'imself, for once.
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