Every
word told upon him. With a jaunty laugh within his own sleeve he had
assured himself that he was safe against any wound which could be
inflicted on him from the columns of the _People's Banner_. He had
been sure that he would be attacked, and thought that he was armed
to bear it. But the thin blade penetrated every joint of his harness,
and every particle of the poison curdled in his blood. He was hurt
about Lady Laura; he was hurt about his borough of Tankerville; he
was hurt by the charges against him of having outraged delicacy;
he was hurt by being handed over to the tender mercies of Major
Mackintosh; he was hurt by the craft with which the Vice-Chancellor's
injunction had been evaded; but he was especially hurt by the
allusions to his own poverty. It was necessary that he should earn
his bread, and no doubt he was a seeker after place. But he did not
wish to obtain wages without working for them; and he did not see why
the work and wages of a public office should be less honourable than
those of any other profession.
Pages:
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467