Page:Romance & Reality 2.pdf/303

Rh to will is to do: so a truce to fine sentiments—keep them for the hustings—look to realities, and dine to-day with me. Every thing changes about us, and we must not be behindhand with the age." Here he was interrupted by Edward: "If I had not looked up to you, honoured you, held you as the proof how all that is noble in theory could be made admirable in action, I could listen more patiently; but can it be Mr. Delawarr whom I hear say, that consistency is a prejudice and conduct to be ruled by convenience? Opinions may change with the circumstances on which they were founded, but principles never. Either your whole past life has been a lie, or else your present conduct. The high and warm feelings your youth, matured by the convictions of manhood—all that a whole life has held to be right—cannot, surely, in the experience of a few days, be utterly wrong. By your present change you declare, during so many years I have been either a fool or a hypocrite. By this abandonment of your old opinions, what security is there for the stability of your new? False to your party—still falser to yourself—on what does your future rely? Convenience is the only bond between