Her manner and phrases were an evident imitation of the way in which she had heard advice bestowed upon vagrant or criminal by the benevolent judge whose memory she so tenderly cherished.

It was second nature to her to act as she fancied he would have acted.

Courthope composed himself to receive the judicial admonition with becoming humility; his whole sympathy was with her, his mind was aglow with the quaint humour of it.
'You must know,' rebuked Madge, 'how very wrong it is; and it is not possible that you could have difficulty in getting some honest employment.' 'It is very kind of you to interest yourself in me.' He kept his eyes upon the ground.
'I do not know, of course, what led you to begin a life of crime, or in what way you found out what houses in this country were worth robbing, but I fear you must have led a wicked life for a long time' (she was very severe now).

'You are young yet; why should you carry on your nefarious schemes in a new country, where, if you would, you could easily reform ?' (Again a little gasp for breath.) 'I have promised to let you go without giving you into the hands of the law.

I am afraid I did a selfish and weak thing, because others may suffer from your crimes, and I wish you could take this opportunity, which my leniency gives you, and try to reform before you have lost your reputation as well as your character.' 'It is very kind of you,' he murmured again; and still as he walked he looked upon his feet.