ell for
the entangled girls, as for the tame spirits?--Better o' my
conscience!--'Tis but comparing the spider to us brave fellows, and it
quadrates.

Whatever our hearts are in, our heads will follow. Begin with spiders,
with flies, with what we will, girl is the centre of gravity, and we all
naturally tend to it.

Nevertheless, to recur; I cannot but observe, that these tame spirits
stand a poor chance in a fairly offensive war with such of us mad
fellows as are above all law, and scorn to sculk behind the hypocritical
screen of reputation.

Thou knowest that I never scruple to throw myself amongst numbers of
adversaries; the more the safer: one or two, no fear, will take the part
of a single adventurer, if not intentionally, in fact; holding him in,
while others hold in the principal antagonist, to the augmentation of
their mutual prowess, till both are prevailed upon to compromise, or
one to be absent: so that, upon the whole, the law-breakers have the
advantage of the law-keepers, all the world over; at least for a time,
and till they have run to the end of their race. Add to this, in the
question between me and the Harlowes, that the whole family of them must
know that they have injured me--must therefore be afraid of me. Did they
not, at their own church, cluster together like bees, when they saw me
enter it? Nor knew they which should venture out first, when the service
was over.

James, indeed, was not there. If he had, he would perhaps have
endeavoured to look valiant. But there is a sort of valour in the face,
which shews fear in the heart: just such a face would James Harlowe's
have been, had I made them a visit.

When I have had such a face and such a heart as I have described to deal
with, I have been all calm and serene, and left it to the friends of the
blusterer (as I have done to the Harlowes) to do my work for me.

I am about mustering up in my memory, all that I have ever done, that
has been thought praise-worthy, or but barely tolerable. I am afraid
thou canst not help me to many remembrances of this sort; because I
never was so bad as since I have known thee.

Have I not had it in my heart to do some good that thou canst not remind
me of? Study for me, Jack. I have recollected some instances which I
think will tell in--but see if thou canst not help me to some which I
may have forgot.

This I may venture to say, that the principal blot in my escutcheon is
owing to these girls, these conf