Page:Gissing - The Nether World, vol. I, 1889.djvu/70

 girls have to go out and get their livings. We teach them the best we can, and the devil knows they've got examples enough of misery and ruin before their eyes to help them to keep straight. Rich people can take care of their daughters as much as they like; they can treat them like children till they're married; people of our kind can't do that, and it has to be faced."

John sat with dark brow, his eyes staring on vacancy.

"It's right what Sidney says, father," put in Mrs. Hewett; "we can't help it."

"You may perhaps have done harm when you meant only to do good," pursued Sidney.

"Always being so anxious, and showing what account you make of her, perhaps you've led her to think a little too much of herself. She knows other fathers don't go on in that way. And now she wants more freedom, she feels it worse than other girls do when you begin to deny her. Talk to her in a different way; talk as if you trusted her. Depend upon it, it's the only hold you have upon her. Don't