I think she would've been worse off... she was having a real hard time, even before she met me. Parents who were hard on her - or worse, really, they didn't even really care about her. But I did.

[Selfish as ever, Tate thinks that's a good as any explanation of getting involved with Violet. He cared about her, he helped her - he certainly didn't make things intentionally worse by only really caring about her when he thought he could benefit from her love and affection over that of his last devoted-to woman of the house. Ahem.

He picks at a loose thread on his sleeve, and feels a bit cowed by her words:]

I like they way you say it, I believe that. I want that? If she was still here, I'd promise all the honesty I could.