No sooner was the house clear of my cousin than I began to reckon up, ruefully enough, the probable results of what had passed.

Here were a number of pots broken, and it looked to me as if I should have to pay for all! Here had been this proud, mad beast goaded and baited both publicly and privately, till he could neither hear nor see nor reason; whereupon the gate had been set open, and he had been left free to go and contrive whatever vengeance he might find possible.

I could not help thinking it was a pity that, whenever I myself was inclined to be upon my good behaviour, some friends of mine should always determine to play a piece of heroics and cast me for the hero--or the victim--which is very much the same.

The first duty of heroics is to be of your own choosing.

When they are not that, they are nothing.