I do not mean that I think ill-tempered people should be constantly
yielded to, as Nurse says Mrs. Rampant and the servants have given way
to Mr. Rampant till he has got to be quite as unreasonable and nearly
as dangerous as most maniacs, and his friends never cross him, for the
same reason that they would hot stir up a mad bull.
Perhaps I do not quite know how I would have our friends treat us who
are cursed with bad tempers. I think to avoid unnecessary provocation,
and to be patient with us in the height of our passion, is wise as
well as kind. But no principle should be conceded to us, and rights
that we have unjustly attacked should be faithfully defended when we
are calm enough to listen. I fancy that where gentle Mrs. Rampant is
wrong is that she allows Mr. Rampant to think that what really are
concessions to his weakness are concessions to his wisdom. And what is
not founded on truth cannot do lasting good. And if, years ago, before
he became a sort of gunpowder cask at large, he had been asked if he
wished Mrs. Rampant to persuade herself, and Mrs. Rampant, the little
Rampants, and the servants to combine to persuade him, that he was
right when he was wrong, and wise when he was foolish, and reasonable
when he was unjust, I think he would have said No.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145