“As you desire it, we will speak plainly to each other anent this subject.  You know his proud and hasty temper; you know also that I am more like yourself than like Moses in the way of meekness.  Now, if Captain Hyde insults me, what course would you advise me to adopt?”

“I wouldna gie him the chance to insult you.  I would keep oot o’ his way.  There is naething unusual or discreditable in taking a journey to Boston, to speir after the welfare o’ your brother Alexander.”

“Oh, indeed, sir, I cannot leave my affairs for an insolent and ungrateful fool!  I ask your advice for the ordinary way of life, not for the way that cowardice or fear dictates.  If without looking for him, or avoiding him, we meet, and a quarrel is inevitable, what then, father?”

“Ay, weel, in that case, God prevent it!  But in sic a strait, my lad, it is better to gie the insult than to tak’ it.”

“You know what must follow?”

“Wha doesna ken?  Blood, if not murder.  Neil, you are a wise and prudent lad; now, isna the sword o’ the law sharper than the rapier o’ honour?”

“Law has no remedy for the wrongs men of honour redress with the sword.  A man may call me every shameful name; but, unless I can show some actual loss in money or money’s worth, I have no redress.  And suppose that I tried it, and that after long sufferance and delays I got my demands, pray, sir, tell me, how can offences which have flogged a man’s most sacred feelings be atoned for by something to put in the pocket?”

“Society, Neil”—­

“Society, father, always convicts and punishes the man who takes an insult on view, without waiting for his indictment or trial.”

“There ought to be a law, Neil”—­

“No law will administer itself, sir.  The statute-book is a dead letter when it conflicts with public opinion.  There is not a week passes but you may see that for yourself, father.  If a man is insulted, he must protect his honour; and he will do so until the law is able to protect him better than his own strength.”

“There is another way—­a mair Christian way”—­

“The world has not taken it yet; at any rate, I am very sure none of the Semples have.”

“You are, maybe, o’er sure, Neil.  Deacon Van Vorst has said mair than my natural man could thole, many a time, in the sessions and oot o’ them; but the dominie aye stood between us wi’ his word, and we hae managed so far to keep the peace, though a mair pig-headed, provoking, pugnacious auld Dutchman never sat down on the dominie’s left hand.”

“Then, father, if Captain Hyde should quarrel with me, and if he should challenge me, you advise me to refuse the challenge, and to send for the dominie to settle the matter?”