How we cite our quotes: (Chapter. Paragraph)
Quote #7
"Stop that nonsense, Philip. I will not be disgraced by her. I will have the child. Pay all we've got for it. I will have it." (5.195)
Mrs. Herriton kind of scares us—we definitely wouldn't want to get on her bad side. She is furious at Caroline for potentially disgracing the Herriton reputation. But here's where Forster shows Mrs. Herriton's true colors: she emphatically declares that she will have the child, but not because she loves the baby. She's treating the child like an object that can be bought and sold with cash.
Quote #8
"Her view will be that the affair is settled—sadly settled since the baby is dead. Still it's over; our family circle need be vexed no more. She won't even be angry with you. You see, you have done us no harm in the long run. Unless, of course, you talk about Harriet and make a scandal." (10.24)
We're disappointed in Philip in this scene—even though he seems genuinely repentant about the baby's death, the way he describes the events sounds callous and dismissive. Pay attention to how Philip's word choice emphasizes the way he sees the tragic events only in terms of how it affects the Herriton's reputation: the baby's death "settles" the affair, so now the family doesn't have to be "vexed" with bringing the baby back to Sawston. Mrs. Herriton isn't even "angry" at Miss Abbott because she hasn't done any "harm" to the family name, unless of course she creates another "scandal" by mentioning Harriet's crime. Uh, the Herritons are the worst.