Crime & punishment > Peveril of the Peak > Volume 2

84
PEVERIL OP THE PEAK.
curred, even during the hloody scenes of civil
warfare, of good and worthy men laying the pre-
judice of party affections aside, and regarding
each other with respect, and even with friendly
attachment, without being false to principle on
either side?”
“It may be so,” said Alice; “hut such is
not the league which my father desires to form
with you, and that to which he hopes your mis¬
placed partiality towards his daughter may af¬
ford a motive for your forming with him.”
“And what is it,” said Peveril, “which I
would refuse, with such a prospect before me?”
“Treachery and dishonour!” replied Alice;
“whatever would render you unworthy of the
poor boon at which you aim—ay, were it more
worthless than 1 confess it to be.”
“Would your father,” said Peveril, as he
unwillingly received the impression which Alice
designed to convey, — “would he, whose views of
duty are so strict and severe—would he wish to
involve me in aught, to which such harsh epi¬
thets as treachery and dishonour can be applied
with the slightest shadow of truth?”
“Do not mistake me, Julian,” replied the
maiden; “my father is incapable of requesting
aught of you that is not to his thinking just and
honourable; nay, he conceives that he only claims
from you a debt, which is due as a creature to the
Creator, and as a man to your fellow-men.”