Page:Sir Henry Lawrence, the Pacificator.djvu/144

 CHAPTER XI

Lawrence's Personality and Views

His Personality.

We deal first with Sir Henry's personality and character, about which in some points, at any rate, more or less incorrect ideas appear to prevail. In physique he was tall and strong, thin, spare and latterly gaunt, active and untiring; in aspect keen-eyed and observant, thoughtful, earnest and decided; in manner frank and simple; in temper warm and impulsive. This latter was his weak point, to which he sometimes gave way in cases of crafty insolence or attempted trickery. When young he was apt to be headstrong and impatient; in disposition chivalrous, gentle, sympathetic and generous; in bearing fearless and resolute, high-spirited and sensitive to affront or deception. Colonel Newcome is the typical character that represents him most closely.

With a tender conscience from his earliest days, right-minded, and carefully guided in his Home education, his principles of life were always of the highest; and, having in the first years of his manhood fallen into the company of a religious circle