ctician, and skilled in the knowledge of nature, do not for this
reason renounce the hope of being both free and modest and social and
obedient to God.'

Or has one been injured?--

'The best way of avenging thyself is not to become like the wrongdoer.'

Why should one desire praise or fear blame?--

'Which of these things is beautiful because it is praised, or spoiled
by being blamed? Is such a thing as an emerald made worse than it was
if it is not praised? or gold, ivory, purple, a lyre, a little knife, a
flower, a shrub?'

John Douglas knew nothing of the opinion in which he was held by his
neighbours; and, if he had known, he would not have heeded one jot.

Now it was in the waning of the year, when the great fuchsia-tree
covering the front of Braeside Cottage had dropped all its dark-red
bells, and when the rowan-trees along the road were yellowing, though
masses of the scarlet berries still remained to delight the eye, that
the news of the breaking of the City of Glasgow Bank came to these
parts. There were those who knew that the residue of Captain Douglas's
small fortune was invested in that flourishing concern, which had been
paying dividends of 10 and 11 per cent; and they also suspected that he
would know nothing of the terrible crash, for he seldom read
newspapers. But not one of them would go and take the bad news to him.
If he had not been a very sociable man, it was not through pride. He
had done many generous actions. The children were fond of him. They
waited for himself to find out the misfortune that had overtaken him.

Douglas's first intimation was contained in a letter sent him by a
solicitor in Greenock. The vague reference to what had happened he did
not understand at first; but he called his old housekeeper and bade her
to bring him the newspapers of the last few days; and then he sat down,
quietly and composedly, and read the story of his ruin.

First came rumours about a certain bank. Then the definite statement
that the City of Glasgow Bank had suspended payment. Then guesses at
the deficit, beginning with 3,000,000 pounds, along with indignant
comments about the manner in which the business of the bank had been
conducted, and commiseration for the shareholders, the large majority
of whom, it was anticipated, would have to surrender every farthing of
which they were possessed.

Douglas read on and read through; and was neither shocked nor
bewildered. He even remembered so