excessive weakness would soon vanish. What it was that he feared I
could not guess; but it was manifest to me that some great terror
almost overwhelmed him.

"My idea is," said I, and I suppose that I spoke with something less
of good-nature in my tone than I had assumed for the last day or
two, "that no man should, under any circumstances, be so afraid of
another man, as to tremble at his presence,--either at his presence
or his expected presence."

"Ah, now you are angry with me; now you despise me!"

"Neither the one nor the other. But if I may take the liberty of a
friend with you, I should advise you to combat this feeling of
horror. If you do not, it will unman you. After all, what can your
uncle do to you? He cannot rob you of your heart and soul. He
cannot touch your inner self."

"You do not know," he said.

"Ah but, Smith, I do know that. Whatever may be this quarrel
between you and him, you should not tremble at the thought of him;
unless indeed--"

"Unless what?"

"Unless you had done aught that should make you tremble before every
honest man." I own I had begun to have my doubts of him, and to
fear that he had absolutely disgraced himself. Even in such case
I,--I individually,--did not wish to be severe on him; but I should