"It's his business to know what he can take," said Lawrence. "It isn't mine."
"But suppose he is drawn on by your example, and drinks more than he can bear? What follows, Mr. St. Leger?"
Dolly's voice had a pathetic clang which touched Rupert, and I think embarrassed Lawrence.
"If he is so unwise, of course he suffers for it. But as I said, that is his business."
"And not yours?"
"Of course not!" Mr. Copley broke in. "Dolly, you do not understand the world. How can I tell St. Leger how much he is to drink? or he tell me how much I must? Don't be absurd, child! You grow a little absurd, living alone."
"Father, I think the world might be better than it is. And one person helps on another for good or for evil. And St. Paul was not of your opinion."
"St. Paul? What did he say about it? That one must not drink wine? Not at all. He told Timothy, or somebody, to take it, for his stomach's sake."
"But he said,—that if meat made his brother to offend, he would eat no meat while the world stood, lest he made his brother to offend. And meat is certainly a good thing."
"Well, there are just two things about it," said Mr. Copley; "meat is not wine, and I am not St. Paul. A little more, Lawrence. If it is not a man's duty to look after his neighbour's potations, neither is it a woman's. Dolly is young; she will learn better."