You should so live
as not to come near the law,--or to have the law come near to you.
From all evil against which the law bars you, you should be
barred, at an infinite distance, by honour, by conscience, and
nobility. Does the law require patriotism, philanthropy, self-
abnegation, public service, purity of purpose, devotion to the
needs of others who have been placed in the world below you? The
law is a great thing,--because men are poor and weak, and bad. And
it is great, because where it exists in strength, no tyrant can be
above it. But between you and me there should be no mention of law
as the guide of conduct. Speak to me of honour, of duty, and of
nobility; and tell me what they require of you.'
Silverbridge listened in silence and with something of admiration
in his heart. But he felt the strong necessity of declaring his
own convictions on the special point here, at once, in this new
crisis of the conversation. That accident in regard to the colour
of the Dean's lodge had stood in the way of his logical studies,--
so that he was unable to put his argument into proper shape; but
there belonged to him a certain natural astuteness which told him
that he must put his rejoinder at this particular point.
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