Amelia -- Volume 3

between Dr Harr

d his lady, with the

el Bath likewise mad

the behaviour of Colonel James was such as gave some uneasiness to Amelia, who well understood h

etty brisk with champagne at dinner, soon began to display his magnanimity. "My brother tells me, young gentleman," said he

on it then," cries the colonel, "I hear you have been arrested; and I

ed of that matter. I am convinced no satisfaction will

s the colonel. To which the doctor answered, "Tha

is, as you say, a matter of a tender nature. Nothing, indeed, is so tender as a man's honour. Curse my li

ensate one breach of the law by a much great

the resentment of an affront make a gentleman guilty of murder? and what greater affront can one man cast upon a

onel's humour with success, began to play with it; and, having first conveyed a private wink to the doctor, he said there might be cases undoubtedly where such an

at case," cries the colonel; "and y

ir," said the doctor, "I was the plaintiff

to say. Women and the clergy are upon the same footing. T

ds with you, I believe there are some clergymen, who in defence of their religion, or their country, or their friend, the only justi

at dignity; "and you have my leave to say what you pl

d our order is very much obliged to you, since you prof

, sir?" said

expressly forbidden all that cutting of thro

at you are driving at; but you shall not persuade m

wrong idea of the word, colonel. What were all the Greeks and Romans? were these cow

memnons, fight with that paultry rascal Paris? and Diomede with what d'ye call him there? and Hector with I forget his name, he that wa

arning, colonel," cr

-"No, sir, I do not pretend to learning; but I have

) speak of wars between nations, and not of private duels; for of the latter I do not remember one single instance in all the Greek and Roman story. In short, it is a modern custom, introduced by ba

new cause; for I perceive we shall never agree on this. You

same Church, I hop

answered the colonel, "and will figh

es the doctor, "to fight so zealously for

ll the dignity of a man, if any other person had said the words you have just utt

to the sacerdotal robe. Booth therefore interposed between the disputants, and said that the colonel had very rightly proposed to call a new subject; for that it was impossible to reconcile accepting a challenge with the Christian rel

el, with an air of triump

r, "that it is much harder to

yet I believe myself to be as good a Christian as wears a head. My maxim is, never to give an affront, nor ever to

e that is your resolution, I hope n

"and he that doth will be obliged to you for lending him your gown; for, by

reader to guess what had been the subject of them. Being waked, however, from his reverie, and having heard the two or three last speeches, h

t used to talk of these matters. They are generally poltroons that do. I think I need not be beholden to my tongue to declare I am none. I hav

urse nor the object of his vanity, when a servant entered and summoned the company to tea with

l to those who are engaged in it, may probably appear somewha