B.—Well, sir, that is to say, that as charity directs you to speak well of every man, so, when you cannot speak well, you refrain, and will say nothing; and you do very well, to be sure; you are a very kind neighbour.
A.—But that is a base construction of my words; for I tell you, I do the like by every body.
B.—Yes, sir, I believe you do, and I think you are in the right of it—am fully satisfied.
A.—You act more unjustly by me than by my neighbour; for you take my silence, or declining to give a character, to be giving an ill character.
B.—No, sir, not for an ill character.
A.—But I find you take it for a ground of suspicion.
B.—I take it, indeed, for a due caution to me, sir; but the man may be a good man for all that, only—
A.—Only what? I understand you—only you won't trust him with your goods.
B.—But another man may, sir, for all that, so that you have been kind to your neighbours and to me too, sir—and you are very just. I wish all men would act so one by another; I should feel the benefit of it myself among others, for I have suffered deeply by ill tongues, I am sure.
A.—Well, however unjust you are to me, and to my neighbour too, I will not undeceive you at present; I think you do not deserve it.