Roger felt that he hadn't half said what he had to say, but he hardly knew how to get it said. And of what use could it be to talk to a young man who was altogether callous and without feeling? The remedy for the evil ought to be found in the mother's conduct rather than the son's. She, were she not foolishly weak, would make up her mind to divide herself utterly from her son, at any rate for a while, and to leave him to suffer utter penury. That would bring him round. And then when the agony of want had tamed him, he would be content to take bread and meat from her hand and would be humble. At present he had money in his pocket, and would eat and drink of the best, and be free from inconvenience for the moment. While this prosperity remained it would be impossible to touch him. "You will ruin your sister, and break your mother's heart," said Roger, firing a last harmless shot after the young reprobate.

Roger felt that he hadn't said half of what he had to say. But of what use could it be to talk to a young man who was altogether callous? If his mother were not foolishly weak, she would divide herself from her son for a while, and leave him to suffer penury. That would tame him and make him humble. While he had money in his pocket it would be impossible to touch him.
"You will ruin your sister, and break your mother's heart," said Roger, firing a last harmless shot.
