This I feel to be
unreasonable. And in the neighbourhood of Mr. Morton's house, I
have encountered the ill will of a great many, not for having
spoken untruth, for that I have never heard alleged, but because I
have not been reticent in describing the things which I have seen.
I told you, I think, that I had returned to Mr. Morton's
neighbourhood with the view of defending an oppressed man against
the power of the lord who was oppressing him. Unfortunately for me
the lord, though a scapegrace, spends his money freely and is a
hospitable kindly-hearted honest fellow; whereas the injured victim
has turned out to be a wretched scoundrel. Scoundrel though he is,
he has still been ill used; and the lord, though good-natured, has
been a tyrant. But the poor wretch has thrown me over and sold
himself to the other side and I have been held up to ignominy by
all the provincial newspapers. I have also had to pay through the
nose 175 dollars for my quixotism--a sum which I cannot very well
afford. This money I have lost solely with the view of defending
the weak, but nobody with whom I have discussed the matter seems to
recognise the purity of my object. I am only reminded that I have
put myself into the same boat with a rascal.
I feel from day to day how thoroughly I could have enjoyed a
sojourn in this country if I had come here without any line of duty
laid down for myself.
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