Well, the Radical got the appointment, and the writer certainly did
not grudge it him. He, of course, was aware that his friend had
behaved in a very base manner towards him, but he bore him no ill-
will, and invariably when he heard him spoken against, which was
frequently the case, took his part when no other person would;
indeed, he could well afford to bear him no ill-will. He had never
sought for the appointment, nor wished for it, nor, indeed, ever
believed himself to be qualified for it. He was conscious, it is
true, that he was not altogether unacquainted with the language and
literature of the country with which the appointment was connected.
He was likewise aware that he was not altogether deficient in
courage and in propriety of behaviour. He knew that his appearance
was not particularly against him; his face not being like that of a
convicted pickpocket, nor his gait resembling that of a fox who has
lost his tail; yet he never believed himself adapted for the
appointment, being aware that he had no aptitude for the doing of
dirty work, if called to do it, nor pliancy which would enable him
to submit to scurvy treatment, whether he did dirty work or not--
requisites, at the time of which he is speaking, indispensable in
every British official; requisites, by the bye, which his friend
the Radical possessed in a high degree; but though he bore no ill-
will towards his friend, his friend bore anything but good-will
towards him; for from the moment that he had obtained the
appointment for himself, his mind was filled with the most bitter
malignity against the writer, and naturally enough; for no one ever
yet behaved in a base manner towards another, without forthwith
conceiving a mortal hatred against him.
Pages:
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621