"You wouldn't," said the bankrupt, "if it was an angel from heaven; you'd see him starve first." "Some of us, my dear sir," the draper explained sadly, "have to draw the line at disgrace. Character, in business, goes a long way. Bankruptcy brings disgrace even upon those members of the family who are otherwise regarded with respect." "You think it is a mistake to give money?" Cousin Charles retracted. "We must distinguish between giving and advancing. I would recommend the advance--the advance only--of capital to those who can help themselves." "My friend, if you can help yourself, you want no help." "In a sense, most true; in fact, profoundly true," Cousin Charles replied. "I will make a note of those words. They shall become my motto: 'Those who can help themselves want no help.' So truly wise." "And if so," John continued, "to help those who cannot help themselves is throwing money away." "It is--it is." He pointed to the bankrupt. "Why help him? He cannot help himself. I have always felt that to help my cousin Alfred is a sin--if waste of money is sinful. He failed, sir; he became a bankrupt in Mare Street, only five doors from my place of business; with my surname over his door. I wonder I survived it." "You'll survive your own failure next," said the bankrupt. "Come back to your own case, mister. You agree that one should not help those who can help themselves. Let us lay hold on that. If you can help yourself, why do you want help? You've helped yourself, I understand, to a flourishing business. You are evidently, therefore, beyond the necessity of further help. You want me to advance you a large sum of money. Why? You have shown that you can help yourself. Very well; the best thing you can do is to go on helping yourself." Cousin Charles changed colour. His face dropped, to use the familiar expression. "Sweating four and twenty girls in black with white cuffs," murmured the teacher. "This," John continued, slowly and with weight, "is my answer to your letter. Go on, as you have already begun, trusting to yourself alone. It is best for you. If you are on the downward grade, you would only be saved for a time. If you are going up, the advance you ask would not help you. That is my answer, mister, to your letter." The draper grew very red in the face. "Then," he asked, "you--you--you refuse--you actually refuse this trifling assistance?" "Actually." "You hear, Charles," said the bankrupt. "Am I in my senses?" He looked round him. "The husband of my cousin Alice, much loved--'sweet Alice, Ben Bolt'--a man of millions, refuses me an advance, upon undeniable security, of a simple thousand pounds. Why, the bank will do it for me with alacrity." "Then go to the bank."