to be run over.)«
    With these words, and with a face expressive of many uneasy doubts and much
anxious guardianship, he turned his regards upon the assembled company in the
Lodge: so plainly indicating that his brother was to be pitied for not being
under lock and key, that an opinion to that effect went round among the
Collegians assembled.
    But he did not receive it with unqualified assent; on the contrary, he said,
No, gentlemen, no; let them not misunderstand him. His brother Frederick was
much broken, no doubt, and it might be more comfortable to himself (the Father
of the Marshalsea) to know that he was safe within the walls. Still, it must be
remembered that to support an existence there during many years, required a
certain combination of qualities - he did not say high qualities, but qualities
- moral qualities. Now, had his brother Frederick that peculiar union of
qualities? Gentlemen, he was a most excellent man, a most gentle, tender, and
estimable man, with the simplicity of a child; but would he, though unsuited for
most other places, do for that place? No; he said confidently, no! And, he said,
Heaven forbid that Frederick should be there in any other character than in his
present voluntary character! Gentlemen, whoever came to that College, to remain
there a length of time, must have strength of character to go through a good
deal and to come out of a good deal. Was his beloved brother Frederick that man?
No. They saw him, even as it was, crushed. Misfortune crushed him. He had not
power of recoil enough, not elasticity enough, to be a long time in such a
place, and yet preserve his self-respect and feel conscious that he was a
gentleman. Frederick had not (if he might use the expression) Power enough to
see in any delicate little attentions and - and - Testimonials that he might
under such circumstances receive, the goodness of human nature, the fine spirit
animating the Collegians as a community, and at the same time no degradation to
himself, and no depreciation of his claims as a gentleman. Gentlemen, God bless
you!
    Such was the homily with which he improved and pointed the occasion to the
company in the Lodge, before turning into the sallow yard again, and going with
his own poor shabby dignity past the Collegian in the dressing-gown who had no
coat, and past the Collegian in the sea-side slippers who had no shoes, and past
the stout greengrocer Collegian in the corduroy knee