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Rh the very face of death—and for what? But true it is, that of any great exertion in which the mind has part, the best reward is in the exertion itself." "I do not know any thing," observed Mr. Brande, "that has more moved my sympathy than Bruce's position on his return home. After all he had suffered, and, still more, all he had overcome, to find, when he arrived in his own country, having performed one of the most extraordinary undertakings that was ever accomplished by a single individual,—to find, I say, on his return, that he was a by-word and a mockery; his honourable feelings as a gentleman insulted by disbelief of his assertions; and his own high sense of difficulties dared and overcome, laid in the dust by sneer and ridicule, which must have entered into his very soul, and left their own littleness behind." "Or," returned Lord Mandeville, "what do you say to Columbus returning laden with irons from his own discovered world, which, to this very day, does not even bear his name?" "Why, I say," exclaimed Cecil, "that I do not see the advantage of taking much trouble about any thing."

"I cannot agree with you," said Edward.