Many
genius and many a quack, for that matter, has met with a similar fate
before and since Miss Costigan's time. This honest woman meanwhile bore
up against the public neglect, and any other crosses or vexations which
she might have in life, with her usual equanimity; and ate, drank, acted,
slept, with that regularity and comfort which belongs to people of her
temperament. What a deal of grief, care, and other harmful excitement
does a healthy dulness and cheerful insensibility avoid! Nor do I mean to
say that Virtue is not Virtue because it is never tempted to go astray;
only that dulness is a much finer gift than we give it credit for being;
and that some people are very lucky whom Nature has endowed with a good
store of that great anodyne.
Pen used to go drearily in and out from the play at Chatteris during this
season, and pretty much according to his fancy. His proceedings tortured
his mother not a little, and her anxiety would have led her often to
interfere, had not the Major constantly checked, and at the same time
encouraged her; for the wily man of the world fancied he saw that a
favourable turn had occurred in Pen's malady.
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