“‘“If he is, he is too proud to say so. Like Achilles, he wraps himself up with his cloak of selfishness, and smiles at other people’s woes.”
“‘I still held her little hand in mine, every now and then pressing it to my lips.
“‘“Viola, how can you be so cruel, when you know how miserable I am?”
“‘“I had no idea that you were miserable; pray what has caused it?”
“‘“I love one whose high position places her so far above my humble sphere that I know she never can be mine.”
“‘“We are all equals in the eyes of God, and the accidents of birth or fortune should make no difference with us—the worth of the man should be measured according to his deeds.”
“‘“No doubt your theory is altogether correct, but you know that the world takes a different view of it”
“‘“A man who strives to please the world in all things may expect to please himself in none. For my part, I think the world’s a humbug, and society a tyrant; and the man who worships either will make himself miserable. I believe it was Mr. Pope, in his ‘Essay on Man,’ who said,
“‘“‘Honor and shame from no condition rise,
Act well your part, there all the honor lies;
Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow;
The rest is all but leather and prunella.’”
“‘“Viola, don’t you know that I have been loving you devotedly ever since we first met?”