[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Spoiler:

"Aside from higher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle - a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed murder for jealousy's sake, and anger's sake, and hatred's sake, and selfishness' sake, and spiritual pride's sake; but no man, that ever I heard of, ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet charity's sake. [Hence, Severus Snape is a nasty, horrible, evil no good git, and you can take that to the bank!]

I love how eloquent Melville was at the end. That's right. You heard it from Melville. And how could Melville be wrong?

(I love Bartleby, the Srivener Actually JKR reminds me of Bartleby. "I'd prefer not to give you ANY uselful information, because I'm manipulative and evil!")