There is a spur in the prick of a rapier; only stupidity follows the blow of a club.
After sitting silently for some minutes, during which Alfred Dinks sprawled in a chair, and yawned, and whistled insolently to himself, while Fanny sat without looking at him, as if she were deaf and dumb, Hope Wayne said to the husband and wife: "Abel Newt is ruining himself, and he may harm other people.

If there is any thing that can be done to save him we ought to do it.

Fanny, he is your own flesh and blood." She spoke with a kind of despairing earnestness, for Hope herself felt how useless every thing would probably be.

But when she had ended Alfred broke out into uproarious laughter, "Ho! ho! ho! Ho! ho! ho!" He made such a noise that even his wife looked at him with almost a glance of contempt.
"Save Abel Newt!" cried he.

"Convert the Devil! Yes, yes; let's send him some tracts! Ho! ho! ho!" And he roared again until the water oozed from his eyes.
Hope Wayne scarcely looked at him.