CHAPTER XV. MR. JEKYL'S OPINIONS.

httotakethiswomanandchildren,andherproperty." "Why,certainly,mydearMissGordonisn'titrightthateveryoneshouldhavehisownproperty?Iviewthingssimplywiththeeyeofthelawand,intheeyeofthelaw,thatwomanandherchildrenareasmuchyourpropertyastheshoeonyourfootthereisnomannerofdoubtofit." "Ishouldthink,"saidNina,"thatyoumightseewiththeeyeoftheGospel,sometimes!Doyouthink,Mr.Jekyl,thatdoingthisisdoingasIshouldwishtobedoneby,ifIwereintheplaceofthiswoman?" "MydearMissGordon,youngladiesoffinefeeling,atyourtimeoflife,areoftenconfusedonthissubjectbyawrongapplicationoftheScripturelanguage.SupposeIwerearobber,andhadpossessionofyourproperty?Ofcourse,Ishouldn'twishtobemadetogiveitup.Butwoulditfollowthatthegoldenruleobligedthelawfulpossessornottotakeitfromme?Thiswomanisyourpropertythisestateisyourproperty,andsheisholdingitasunlawfullyasarobber.Ofcourse,shewon'twanttogiveitupbutrightisright,notwithstanding." Likemanyotheryoungpersons,Ninacouldfeelherwayoutofsophistrymuchsoonerthanshecouldthinkitoutandsheansweredtoallthisreasoning,— "Afterall,Ican'tthinkitwouldberight." "Oh,confoundthehumbug!"saidTom"whocareswhetheritisrightornot?Thefactis,Nin,tospeakplainsensetoyou,youandIbotharedeucedhardupformoney,andwantallwecangetandwhat'stheuseofbeingmorereligiousthantheverysaintsthemselvesatourtimeofday?Mr.Jekylisapiousman—oneofthetallestkind!Hethinksthisisallright,andwhyneedwesetourselvesallup?HehastalkedwithUncleJohn,andhegoesinforit.Asformypart,IamfreetoownIdon'tcarewhetherit'srightornot!I'lldoitifIcan.Mightmakesright,—that'smydoctrine!" "Why,"saidMr.Jekyl,"Ihaveexaminedthesubject,andIhaven'ttheslightestdoubtthatslaveryisadivinely-appointedinstitution,andthattherightsofthemastersaresanctionedbyGodso,howevermuchImaynaturallyfeelforthiswoman,whosepositionis,Imustsay,anunfortunateone,stillitismydutytoseethatthelawisproperlyadministeredinthecase." "AllIhavetosay,Mr.Jekyl,"saidNina,"isjustthis:thatIwon'thaveanythingtodowiththismatterfor,ifIcan'tproveit'swrong,Ishallalwaysfee