hatyoucannotgetuptothepitchofresistance,why,Godmadeyoutobecrushedandliedownbyallmeans,andlieflat,andletJuggernautridewelloveryou.”
Mr.Hunsden’seloquencewasnot,itwillbeperceived,ofthesmoothandoilyorder.Ashespoke,hepleasedmeill.Iseemtorecognizeinhimoneofthosecharacterswho,sensitiveenoughthemselves,areselfishlyrelentlesstowardsthesensitivenessofothers.Moreover,thoughhewasneitherlikeCrimsworthnorLordTynedale,yethewasacrid,and,Isuspected,overbearinginhisway:therewasatoneofdespotismintheurgencyoftheveryreproachesbywhichheaimedatgoadingtheoppressedintorebellionagainsttheoppressor.LookingathimstillmorefixedlythanIhadyetdone,Isawwritteninhiseyeandmienaresolutiontoarrogatetohimselfafreedomsounlimitedthatitmightoftentrenchonthejustlibertyofhisneighbours.Irapidlyranoverthesethoughts,andthenIlaughedalowandinvoluntarylaugh,movedtheretobyaslightinwardrevelationoftheinconsistencyofman.ItwasasIthought:Hunsdenhadexpectedmetotakewithcalmhisincorrectandoffensivesurmises,hisbitterandhaughtytauntsandhimselfwaschafedbyalaugh,scarcelouderthanawhisper.
Hisbrowdarkened,histhinnostrildilatedalittle.
“Yes,”hebegan,“Itoldyouthatyouwereanaristocrat,andwhobutanaristocratwouldlaughsuchalaughasthat,andlooksuchalook?Alaughfrigidlyjeeringalooklazilymutinousgentlemanlikeirony,patricianresentment.Whatanoblemanyouwouldhavemade,WilliamCrimsworth!YouarecutoutforonepityFortunehasbaulkedNature!Lookatthefeatures,figure,eventothehands—distinctionallover—uglydistinction!Now,ifyou’donlyanestateandamansion,andapark,andatitle,howyoucouldplaytheexclusive,maintaintherightsofyourclass,trainyourtenantryinhabitsofrespecttothepeerage,opposeateverysteptheadvancingpowerofthepeople,supportyourrottenorder,andbereadyforitssaketowadeknee-deepinchurls’bloodasitis,you’venopoweryoucandonothingyou’rewreckedandstrandedontheshoresofcommerceforcedintocollisionwithpracticalmen,withwhomyoucannotcope,forYOU’LLNEVERBEATRADES