"
"Mr. Keith!"
"All sentimentalists are criminals."
This perverse balderdash was getting on the nerves of the deputation.
It had one good effect, however. They had been afraid, at first, of
wasting Mr. Keith's time; now they began to realize that he was wasting
theirs.
"Speaking for myself, Mr. Keith, I should say that you are spoiling
your case by over-statement, and that these reflections of yours are
libels upon a class of men and women who devote their time and money,
often their lives, to alleviating the distress of others. However that
may be, they are generalities. We came to you about a practical matter,
and an urgent one. We want to remove a crying scandal from the island.
The habits of Miss Wilberforce, as I think I pointed out, are shocking
to all decent folks. I suppose you won't deny that?"
"I remember your using those words. They struck me as remarkable
because, for my own part, I have not yet discovered any man, woman, or
child who could shock me. Some persons make a profession of being
scandalized.
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