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Rh I restrained myself as long as possible, and then I told him, that I should not submit to hear any calumnies against my friends; friends who were devoted to me, who would go to perdition to serve me. If they had foibles, they were those that belonged to open, generous natures; they were open-handed, and open-hearted, and had not smothered their passions, till they were quite extinguished. I told him, they were honourable young men, not governed by the fear that 'holds the wretch in order.' He might have known that I meant to tell him they were what he was not; but he seemed quite unmoved, and I spoke more plainly. I had never, I told him, been accustomed to submit my conduct to the revision of any one; that he had no right, and I knew not why he presumed, to assume it, to haunt me like an external conscience; that my 'genius was not rebuked by his,' neither would it be, if all the marvellous light of all his brethren was concentrated in his luminous mind."

"Oh, Erskine, Erskine!" exclaimed Jane, "was this your return for his friendly warning?"

"Hear me through, Jane, before you condemn me. He provoked me more than I have told you. He said that I was responsible to you for my virtue; that I betrayed your trust by exposing myself to be the companion, or the prey, of the vices of others. Would you have had me borne this, Jane? Would you thank me for allowing, that he was more careful of your happiness than I am?"—"Well," added he, after a moment's pause, "as