How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #10
"Your mother has behaved dishonourably all through. She never wanted the child; no harm in that; but she is too proud to let it come to me. She has done all she could to wreck things; she did not tell you everything; she has told Harriet nothing at all; she has lied or acted lies everywhere. I cannot trust your mother. (6.112)
Miss Abbott can see right through Mrs. Herriton's lies and double-crossings. Is Mrs. Herriton a wicked person, or is she the product of a hypocritical society? Is Miss Abbott behaving more honorably than Mrs. Herriton, or are her motives just as morally questionable?
Quote #11
"He doesn't try to keep up appearances as we do." (10.7)
Miss Abbott admires Gino for his honesty, even when it comes off as too blunt or vulgar. Unlike the Herritons (and English society, more generally), Gino doesn't try to "keep up appearance." He says what's on his mind without regard to whether it's "proper" or "mannerly." The Herritons would be appalled by what they see as his unconventional, uncivilized behavior, but Miss Abbott likes Gino's sincerity.
Quote #12
"She will soon be her old self," was the reply. For Harriet, after a short paroxysm of illness and remorse, was quickly returning to her normal state. She had been "thoroughly upset" as she phrased it, but she soon ceased to realize that anything was wrong beyond the death of a poor little child. Already she spoke of "this unlucky accident," and "the mysterious frustration of one's attempts to make things better." (10.28)
Harriet is really no better than her mother when it comes to justifying her actions as morally correct. Even though Harriet is the direct cause of the baby's tragic death, she soon excuses herself from any moral responsibility or guilt by thinking of the event as merely a "tragic accident."