Page:Dawn of the Day.pdf/265

Rh hearing opinions on one's person from sheer dread of praise are cases actually to be met with you may believe it or not!— That will be a matter of easy arrangement! Patience, squire laughtiness! —We may certainly refuse request, but never spurn gratitude (or listen to coldly and conventionally, which is tantamount to it). This gives deep offence—and why? —A strange thing, our punishment! It does not clear the character of the criminal, it is no expiation: on the contrary, it is more defiling than the very crime. —Almost every party has a ridiculous, somewhat dangerous grievance: all those who for years have been the faithful and honourable champions of the faction, and some day suddenly perceive that one much more powerful than they has usurped the leading part, suffer from it. How are they to bear being silenced? Therefore they raise their voices, occasionally even changing their notes. A strong character that is