How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)
Quote #7
JENNY: Who was kneeling on your head?
BILL: Todger was. E was pryin for me: pryin camfortable wiv me as a cawpet. Sow was Mog. Sao was the aol bloomin meetin. Mog she sez "Ow Lawd brike is stabborn sperrit; but down't urt is dear art." Thet was wot she said. "Down't urt is dear art"! An er blowk--thirteen stun four!--kneelin wiv all is wight on me. Fanny, ain't it? (2.349-350)
Apparently, religion can hurt just as much as straight out violence, if Bill's account here can be believed. He had gone looking for Todger Fairmile, his ex's new boyfriend, to fight with him and get punched, which would somehow make him "even" with Jenny for hitting her. However, instead, when Bill spit in his face, Todger apparently decided to combine physical violence with his recent discovery of religion, kneeling on Bill while also praying for him. Because sure, that makes sense?
Quote #8
Not lawkly. Aw'd give her anather as soon as look at er. Let her ev the lawr o me as she threatened! She ain't forgiven me: not mach. Wot Aw dan to er is not on me mawnd—wot she [indicating Barbara] mawt call on me conscience—no more than stickin a pig. It's this Christian gime o yours that Aw wown't ev plyed agen me: this bloomin forgivin an neggin an jawrin that mikes a menn thet sore that iz lawf's a burdn to im. Aw wown't ev it, Aw tell you; sao tike your manney and stop thraowin your silly beshed fice hap agen me. (2.363)
Well, Bill says he'd happily hit Rummy again and wants Jenny to get her "silly beshed fice" away from him, so he sounds really sorry…not. He's basically just trying to get the Army to accept a sovereign (and stop trying to convert him) in compensation for what he did to Jenny, sounding more annoyed and indignant than genuinely sorry.
Quote #9
MRS. BAINES [taking the cheque]: The longer I live the more proof I see that there is an Infinite Goodness that turns everything to the work of salvation sooner or later. Who would have thought that any good could have come out of war and drink? And yet their profits are brought today to the feet of salvation to do its blessed work. [She is affected to tears] (2.424)
Hmm . . . is she looking on the bright side, or rationalizing her decision to accept money from people whose principles run counter to her own? That is the question of the moment when Mrs. Baines enthusiastically takes money from Bodger and Andrew to save the Army.