It is, after all, not a harsh and censorious world.  Let the imperfect respectabilities bear witness.  If rigid justice held rule below, or men were really persecutors of each other, there would be no life for that class.  In point of fact, they not only live, but sometimes do tolerably well in the world.  They only could do so by virtue of a certain mutual tolerance which pervades society.  It is a nice matter, however, to say what degree of imperfect respectability will be endured.  Some things, we all know, cannot be forgiven upon earth; and in such cases there is no resource but in obscurity.  But there is also a large class of offences, the consequences of which may be overcome.  Perhaps the facts do not come fully out into general notice.  Perhaps there may be some little thing to say in exculpation.  If the offender can, after a short space, continue to make his usual personal appearances, he is safe, because the great bulk of his old friends would rather continue to recognise him, than come to a positive rupture—­an event always felt as inconvenient.  Of course, they will be too well-bred to allude before him to any unpleasant fact in his history.  He will never recall it to their minds.  By being thus thrown out of all common reference, it will become obscured to a wonderful degree, insomuch that many will at length think of it only as a kind of domestic myth, to which no importance is to be attached.  Thus Time is continually bringing in his bills of indemnity in favour of these unconfessing culprits.  Were the world as harsh as is said, we should rather be having post-facto acts to punish them, supposing that existing statutes were insufficient.

One of the most curious points in the physiology of an imperfect respectability, is the fact of his almost always having something remarkably agreeable and attractive about him.  Going down a peg in reputation seems somehow to have a specific effect upon the temper.  From a bear it will convert a man into a perfect lamb.  He becomes obliging to the last degree, has a kind word for everybody, and is never so happy as when he is allowed to render you some disagreeable piece of service.  Scott, who knew everything, knew this, and hence it was that he made Glossin so very polite to the ostler at Kippletringan.  When a stranger comes to settle in a country place, the imperfect respectability is sure to be amongst the first to call and offer his services.  He likes a new family, and thinks it a duty to be ready to do the honours of the place.  He is also, to a remarkable degree, a family man.  None is seen so often going about with wife and daughters.  In fact, he is exemplary in this respect.  Few pews, moreover, so regularly filled as his.  When a subscription is got up, it is a positive pleasure to him to subscribe; ten times more to be allowed to come upon the committee, and join other two in going about with a paper.  The effect of all this is, that the imperfect respectable is often a highly popular character.  Everybody likes him, and wishes him at the devil.