Had I not money in plenty beyond what I needed?
What if the future be uncertain?
Has not the present its claims, and can your needs be separated from mine?
Because you have succeeded in keeping me apart from the troubles of your life, you--you and father--have thought you had done a praiseworthy thing.

Is it not bad enough that one human being should be indifferent to the wants of another, just because they call each other strangers?
Was it right to bring such a hateful spirit of independence into a home, between parents and child?
If the world is base and unjust, is not that a reason the more why we should draw ever more closely to each other, and be to each other all that our power allows?
Independent! Because I earned money and could support myself, you have told me I must be independent, and leave you the same.

That is the lesson that life has taught you.

It is well to have understanding for lessons of a deeper kind.' 'Well, my child,' protested the mother, to whom the general tenor of such reasoning was well-nigh as dark as its special application, 'we have always felt we were doing our duty to you.

At your age it is only right you should have your money for yourself; who knows when you may want it?
I don't think you should be angry with us, just because we've felt we'd rather put up with a little hardship now and then than have you feel some day we'd been a burden on you.