Weaker than a Woman — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. 149 trusted townsman, of an honest, honorable man, my agent, Darcy Lonsdale.” It was drank with such honors as a man’s name seldom receives. Then Darcy Lonsdale rose and turned his white face to them, but he could make no speech—the only words his trembling lips could utter were: “Heaven bless you, my lord. I cannot thank you, though you have made aman of meagain. My dear old friends and neighbors, how could you have misjudged me? But you see now that it was all a mistake. I am glad of it. In future we will deal gently with each other, we will judge each other mercifully. Lord Arlington, you have saved my honor; henceforward command me as you will.” Then, unable to'say any more, he sat down. Doctor Hunter was the first to leave his place and shake hands with him. “I never believed one word of the story, Mr. Lonsdale,” he said, “although I confess that I have avoided you. Will you shake hands and let the past be past?” After that the guests went up to the lawyer one by one and shook his hand. Some frankly avowed that they had misjudged him, some begged his pardon, some said that they had gone with the many, but every man present wished him well and Godspeed in his new life. The speech worth hearing when that scene had passed, when justice had been done to an injured man, when peace had been made, was when Doctor Hunter stood up to pro- pose Lord Arlington’s health. Never was a toast so re- ceived, for there is nothing after all which touches an Eng- lishman’ gs heart sooner than defense of the weak, love of justice, and generosity. It was the most successful evening ever known, and it did an immense deal of good; there was not a man present who did not learn a lesson from the earl, who did not re- solve in his heart to be more merciful, more pitiful, more charitable, who did not say to himself that he would be more careful in judging another time. And it was a strange thing that, when they came to compare notes there was not a man among them who had really believed the lawyer guilty; they had gone only with what they thought was public opinion—one had removed his business from the office because another had, one had avoided Darcy Lonsdale because another had. But the earl had taught them a les- son which went home to each heart. It was such a pleasant evening, and Lord Arlington had so contrived matters that Darcy Lonsdale was the real hero. (Elo) Eomicbooks nm