And the worst is, that you may be wrong, and they may be right! For is it, can it be proper for you to stain the silvery whiteness of your skin by plunging headlong into yonder pitch-bath?
Consider the defilement! Contemplate your hideous aspect on issuing from that black baptism! As to the honour of your family, Mr.Evan Harrington, pray, of what sort of metal consists the honour of a tailor's family?
One little impertinent imp ventured upon that question on his own account.

The clever beast was torn back and strangled instantaneously by his experienced elders, but not before Evan's pride had answered him.

Exalted by Love, he could dread to abase himself and strip off his glittering garments; lowered by the world, he fell back upon his innate worth.
Yes, he was called on to prove it; he was on his way to prove it.
Surrendering his dearest and his best, casting aside his dreams, his desires, his aspirations, for this stern duty, he at least would know that he made himself doubly worthy of her who abandoned him, and the world would scorn him by reason of his absolute merit.

Coming to this point, the knot of his resolve tightened again; he hugged it with the furious zeal of a martyr.
Religion, the lack of which in him the Countess deplored, would have guided him and silenced the internal strife.

But do not despise a virtue purely Pagan.