You're right - Lady Hilda doesn't return the paper but I think she desperately wants to. She just doesn't see how she can without confessing her guilt to her husband. She doesn't want to stop Holmes returning the document - she's just still hoping she can sort everything out herself.
I truly think you're being too hard on her. Yes, she acted selfishly but there are a lot of mixed motives there. She didn't want to lose her marriage and social position, but she also genuinely seems to be thinking of her husband's feelings - it would break his heart if he found out both about her letter and her stealing the document. She knew taking the document was "terrible" but I think she fooled herself into believing it would cause no real harm, because she was so desperate. She seems to me very human in her behaviour, someone to pity and think of "there but for the grace of God..."
I really don't think she'll transgress again. She stole in very specific circumstances - because she was being blackmailed. I don't believe she is an inherently dishonest person.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-04-29 09:00 pm (UTC)I truly think you're being too hard on her. Yes, she acted selfishly but there are a lot of mixed motives there. She didn't want to lose her marriage and social position, but she also genuinely seems to be thinking of her husband's feelings - it would break his heart if he found out both about her letter and her stealing the document. She knew taking the document was "terrible" but I think she fooled herself into believing it would cause no real harm, because she was so desperate. She seems to me very human in her behaviour, someone to pity and think of "there but for the grace of God..."
I really don't think she'll transgress again. She stole in very specific circumstances - because she was being blackmailed. I don't believe she is an inherently dishonest person.