What I hoped was to raise up for the poor and the untaught a friend out of their own midst, some one who had gone through all that <i>they</i> suffer… - George Gissing

" "

What I hoped was to raise up for the poor and the untaught a friend out of their own midst, some one who had gone through all that they suffer, who was accustomed to earn her own living by the work of her hands as they do, who had never thought herself their better, who saw the world as they see it and knew all their wants. A lady may do good, we know that; but she can’t be the friend of the poor as I understand it; there’s too great a distance between her world and theirs.