: he couldn't bear to see any one uncomfortable; he
would have been sorry even in his angriest moods for any harm to happen to his
grandfather; and his aunt Lydia herself had the benefit of that soft-heartedness
which he bore towards the whole sex. Whether he would have self-mastery enough
to be always as harmless and purely beneficent as his good nature led him to
desire, was a question that no one had yet decided against him: he was but
twenty-one, you remember; and we don't inquire too closely into character in the
case of a handsome generous young fellow, who will have property enough to
support numerous peccadilloes - who, if he should unfortunately break a man's
legs in his rash driving, will be able to pension him handsomely; or if he
should happen to spoil a woman's existence for her, will make it up to her with
expensive bon-bons, packed up and directed by his own hand. It would be
ridiculous to be prying and analytic in such cases, as if one were inquiring
into the character of a confidential clerk. We use round, general, gentlemanly
epithets about a young man of birth and fortune; and ladies, with that fine
intuition which is the distinguishing attribute of their sex, see at once that
he is »nice.« The chances are that he will go through life without scandalising
any one; a seaworthy vessel that no one would refuse to insure. Ships,
certainly, are liable to casualties, which sometimes make terribly evident some
flaw in their construction, that would never have been discoverable in smooth
water; and many a »good fellow,« through a disastrous combination of
circumstances, has undergone a like betrayal.
    But we have no fair ground for entertaining unfavourable auguries concerning
Arthur Donnithorne, who this morning proves himself capable of a prudent
resolution founded on conscience. One thing is clear: Nature has taken care that
he shall never go far astray with perfect comfort and satisfaction to himself;
he will never get beyond that border-land of sin, where he will be perpetually
harassed by assaults from the other side of the boundary. He will never be a
courtier of Vice, and wear her orders in his button-hole.
    It was about ten o'clock, and the sun was shining brilliantly; everything
was looking lovelier for the yesterday's rain. It is a pleasant thing on such a
morning to walk along the well-rolled gravel on one's way to the stables,
meditating an excursion. But the scent of the stables, which, in
