Mr. Godfrey was considerably unhinged by the change that had taken place in his family, and he watched Hester closely. She had truly said she was now his last hope. That she was dejected at her mother's death could not surprise him or any one, but that her sprightliness had altogether departed, that her energy was depressed, her color faded, and her appetite gone, were sources of great anxiety. Again he took her to Yorkshire, to endeavor to reinspire her with interest in the promotion of the "March of Intellect."
Hester did not feel justified in withdrawing her interest or exertions from the institutions which she had raised and fostered; but it must be confessed that these institutions were gradually assuming the character of mere money-making factories. Mr. Godfrey, dissatisfied with certain losses, had engaged a man of business to overlook the whole concern, and in addition to a stipulated sum, this person was to receive a certain percentage of the profits. This rendered him particularly sharp-sighted as to doing matters economically; that is, with the fewest number of hands, at the lowest rate of wages, and oftentimes employing children in lieu of adults.
"This is altogether, foreign to our first idea," said Hester, "and I do not approve of it at all."
"It cannot be helped, my dear; no enterprise that will not pay can be proceeded with in the long run."
"But these children shut up in the close rooms at eight or ten years of age, for such long hours! it will numb every faculty they possess."
"If their parents are willing to permit it, I do not see what we have to do with it."
"O father! ignorant people often sell their children, without knowing the harm they do; but this cannot be the way in which the world is to improve."
"You were not satisfied with the results of your new plan, which did not make money. I have put the matter into Mr. Fisher's hands for a while, because, I know that in his hands, if money is to be made, it will be made: his talent for business is unrivalled."
"Money is not the principle of progression."
"Nothing can be done without it, at any rate."