ceive that I never could, by any possibility, place myself
in such a false position? The man who, in a case of difficulty, takes
counsel from his passions, is exactly like one, who being thirsty, fills
himself out a bumper of aquafortis and drinks it off."

"I wish with all my heart you 'd give up aphorisms, and just tell me
how we could serve this poor fellow; for I feel that there is a gleam of
light breaking through his dark fortunes."

"When a man is in the state Glencore is now in, the best policy is to
let him alone. They tell us that when Murat's blood was up, the Emperor
always left him to his own guidance, since he either did something
excessively brilliant, or made such a blunder as recalled him to
subjection again. Let us treat our friend in this fashion, and wait. Oh,
my worthy Colonel, if you but knew what a secret there is in that same
waiting policy. Many a game is won by letting the adversary move out of
his turn."

"If all this subtlety be needed to guide a man in the plain road of
life, what is to become of poor simple fellows like myself?"

"Let them never go far from home, Harcourt, and they 'll always find
their way back," said Upton; and his eyes twinkled with quiet drollery.
"Come, now," said he, with perfect good-nature of look and voice, "If I
won't tell you what I should counsel Glencore in this emergency, I 'll
do the next best thing, I' ll tell you what advice you'd give him."

"Let us hear it, then," said the other.

"You'd send him abroad to search out his wife; ask her forgiveness
for all the wrong he has done her; call out any man that whispered the
shadow of a reproach against her; and go back to such domesticity as it
might please Heaven to accord him."

"Certainly, if the woman has been unjustly dealt with--"

"There's the rock you always split on: you are everlastingly in search
of a character. Be satisfied when you have eaten a hearty breakfast,
and don't ask for a bill of health. Researches are always dangerous. My
great grandfather, who had a passion for genealogy, was cured of it by
discovering that the first of the family was a staymaker! Let the lesson
not be lost on us."

"From all which I am to deduce that you 'd ask no questions,--take her
home again, and say nothing."

"You forget, Harcourt, we are now discussing the line of action _you_
would recommend; I am only hinting at the best mode of carrying out
_your_ ideas."

"Just for the pleasure of showing me that