But if I may take the liberty of a
friend with you, I should advise you to combat this feeling of
horror. If you do not, it will unman you. After all, what can your
uncle do to you? He cannot rob you of your heart and soul. He
cannot touch your inner self."
"You do not know," he said.
"Ah but, Smith, I do know that. Whatever may be this quarrel
between you and him, you should not tremble at the thought of him;
unless indeed--"
"Unless what?"
"Unless you had done aught that should make you tremble before every
honest man." I own I had begun to have my doubts of him, and to
fear that he had absolutely disgraced himself. Even in such case
I,--I individually,--did not wish to be severe on him; but I should
be annoyed to find that I had opened my heart to a swindler or a
practised knave.
"I will tell you all to-morrow," said he; "but I have been guilty of
nothing of that sort."
In the evening he did come out, and sat with me as I smoked my
cigar. The boat, he was told, would almost undoubtedly come in by
daybreak on the following morning, and be off at nine; whereas it
was very improbable that any arrival from Jerusalem would be so
early as that.
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