He only desired me not rashly to listen
to anything prejudicial to your character; for that you had enemies who
were laboring to injure you in some way--but how--he either would not
tell, or perhaps did not know. I am glad, however, he mentioned it; for
I shall be guarded should I hear anything to your prejudice."
"I tell you beforehand, sir," said Bryan, with the conscious warmth
of rectitude, "and I think I ought to know best, that if you ever hear
anything against my honesty or want of principle, or if any one should
say that I will be consarned in what's contrary to either law or
justice, you'll hear a falsehood--I don't care who it comes from--and
the man who tells you so is a liar."
"I should be sorry to believe otherwise, my dear Bryan; it would grieve
me to be forced to believe otherwise. If you suffer yourself to be drawn
into anything wrong or improper, you will be the first individual
of your family that ever brought a stain upon it. It would grieve
me--deeply would it grieve me, to witness such a blot upon so
honest--but no, I will not, for I cannot suppose it."
Bryan, whose disposition was full of good-nature and cheerfulness, could
not help bursting into a hearty laugh, on reverting to the conversation
which he had with Clinton, and comparing it with that in which they were
now engaged; both of which were founded upon some soap-bubble charge of
which he knew nothing.
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