How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #7
"I don't know how much he minds—not as much as we suppose, I think. At all events there's not a word of blame in the letter. I don't believe he even feels angry. I never was so completely forgiven." (10.1)
Philip is astonished (and also grateful) to learn that Gino doesn't blame him for the death of his son, and has completely forgiven him. Is it even possible to be forgiving in a situation that involves the death of your child? Or is that the very nature and meaning of true forgiveness—to stop blaming those who are the most to blame?
Quote #8
"I saw why you had come, and why you changed sides, and afterwards I saw your wonderful courage and pity." (10.47)
Philip praises Miss Abbott for her "courage and pity," for her ability to find compassion for Gino's plight. Caroline's decision to "change sides," to fight for Gino and against Mrs. Herriton, can be seen as a sign of her spiritual transformation. Miss Abbott abandons her original mission to rescue the baby (a mission which she began in part to ease her own sense of guilt) and chooses to risk Mrs. Herriton's anger by siding with Gino. In this case, compassion wins out over duty. Caroline refuses to use the hypocritical notion of duty as a way to justify taking a son away from his loving father.