I Forbid the Banns! — page 253: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

ON BEING THOUGHT A SCOUNDREL. 243 tie except one that is purely imaginative—I will not say illusive. Above all, I pity your children.” “You are at liberty to take any view you please of the course we have adopted,” said Charlton when his visitor had spoken. “Iam not sure that you can claim to be looked on as a wholly disinterested critic. I am not sure if that man Vicars, who was living at your house, gave you to understand what his views were in respect of your wife’s niece; but I fancy that, in removing Bertha out of his power and, perhaps, out of your power and away from your associations, I have done well. So far I have nothing to reproach myself with. Now, I decline to discuss the matter further with you or with anyone else.,”’ “You are right there, sir,” said Mr. Hardy. ‘The less you discuss the matter the better it will be—for yourself. But you cannot altogether crush down the consciousness, which you now and again have, of behaving like a scoun- drel in failing to protect that young woman against herself —in being a party to that foolish fancy of hers. Now and again you feel a bit uneasy, I know; for a man cannot get rid of his conscience all in a moment, any more than a man can get rid of the rheumatism all at once. Conscience is the rheumatism of the soul—it never quite leaves one. Its twinges may not be felt for some time, but they come with increased force when they return—as return they will. Now I have said what I came here to say, and I can depart in peace.” . “You can,’ said Julian. ‘“ You have spoken according to your lights, I dare say; but such lights as yours are rush-lights, Mr. Hardy.” “ Perhaps so, Mr. Charlton,” said Mr. Hardy. “But I take leave to hold that there are worse lights than rush- lights, sir. There is the zguzs fatuus, for instance, that leads people up to the neck in a marsh; and there is the St. Elmo light that heralds a storm. I am better satisfied (EMMI LYOO!|KS, (EC)