She had felt grateful to Mr. Benson for his one clear, short
precept, coming down with a divine' force against which there was
no appeal; and now to have Mr. Farquhar taking the side of
expediency! It was too bad.
"Nay, Jemima!" said Mr. Farquhar, touched, and secretly flattered
by the visible pain his speech bad given. "Don't be indignant
with me till I have explained myself a little more. I don't
understand myself yet; and it is a very intricate question, or so
it appears to me, which I was going to put, really, earnestly,
and humbly, for Mr. Benson's opinion. Now, Mr. Benson, may I ask
if you always find it practicable to act strictly in accordance
with that principle? For if you do not, I am sure no man living
can. Are there not occasions when it is absolutely necessary to
wade through evil to good? I am not speaking in the careless,
presumptuous way of that man yonder," said he, lowering his
voice, and addressing himself to Jemima more exclusively; "I am
really anxious to hear what Mr. Benson will say on the subject,
for I know no one to whose candid opinion I should attach more
weight."
But Mr. Benson was silent. He did not see Mrs. Bradshaw and
Jemima leave the room. He was really, as Mr. Farquhar supposed
him, completely absent, questioning himself as to how far his
practice tallied with his principle. By degrees he came to
himself; he found the conversation still turned on the election;
and Mr.
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