I honour him for
his great abilities and knowledge. Stephen is a scholar; I
have no pretensions that way; but I can feel the pulse of a
people, and can comprehend the signs of the times, Sybil.
Stephen was all very well talking in our cottage and garden at
Mowbray, when we had nothing to do; but now we must act, or
others will act for us. Stephen is not a practical man; he is
crotchety, Sybil, and that's just it."
"But violence and action," said Sybil, "are they identical, my
father?"
"I did not speak of violence."
"No; but you looked it. I know the language of your
countenance, even to the quiver of your lip. Action, as you
and Stephen once taught me, and I think wisely, was to prove
to our rulers by an agitation, orderly and intellectual, that
we were sensible of our degradation; and that it was neither
Christianlike nor prudent, neither good nor wise, to let us
remain so. That you did, and you did it well; the respect of
the world, even of those who differed from you in interest or
opinion, was not withheld from you; and can be withheld from
none who exercise the moral power that springs from great
talents and a good cause. You have let this great moral
power, this pearl of price," said Sybil with emotion,--"we
cannot conceal it from ourselves, my father,--you have let it
escape from your hands.
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