It was under circumstances of great provocation.

I have never been guilty of such a thing before.

I never in my life have been addicted to profanity." "Damnation, John," interposed the professor, "how often have I told you the word is profaneness and not profanity ?" It is needless to say that the sermon ended at that point.
But the most interesting single figure in the Harvard Faculty in my day was James Walker.

He was a man of quiet dignity, and of modest bearing.

He appeared rather awkward when he walked, as if there were some want of strength in the feet or ankles.