‘But you had not: it is a sick fancy. Indeed, it is not far from morose delectation: take great care of that sin, James, I beg. As for the rest, it is a pity you mind it so. What does it amount to, in the long run?’ ‘A man would have to be three parts dead not to mind it so; and quite dead to a sense of duty, to say nothing of … Mr Watt, that will do very well.’ Stephen sat there, weighing the advantage of saying ‘Do not hate Jack Aubrey for it: do not drink so much: do not destroy yourself for what will not last’ against the disadvantage of setting off an explosion; for in spite of his
...more
