Chapter 64

           1stGent.Whereliesthepower,therelettheblamelietoo.2dGent.Nay,powerisrelative;youcannotfrightThecomingpestwithborderfortresses,Orcatchyourcarpwithsubtleargument.Allforceistwaininone:causeisnotcauseUnlesseffectbethere;andaction’sselfMustneedscontainapassive.SocommandExistsbutwithobedience."

           EvenifLydgatehadbeeninclinedtobequiteopenabouthisaffairs,heknewthatitwouldhavehardlybeeninMr.Farebrother’spowertogivehimthehelpheimmediatelywanted.Withtheyear’sbillscominginfromhistradesmen,withDover’sthreateningholdonhisfurniture,andwithnothingtodependonbutslowdribblingpaymentsfrompatientswhomustnotbeoffended—forthehandsomefeeshehadhadfromFreshittHallandLowickManorhadbeeneasilyabsorbed—nothinglessthanathousandpoundswouldhavefreedhimfromactualembarrassment,andleftaresiduewhich,accordingtothefavoritephraseofhopefulnessinsuchcircumstances,wouldhavegivenhim"timetolookabouthim."

           Naturally,themerryChristmasbringingthehappyNewYear,whenfellow-citizensexpecttobepaidforthetroubleandgoodstheyhavesmilinglybestowedontheirneighbors,hadsotightenedthepressureofsordidcaresonLydgate’smindthatitwashardlypossibleforhimtothinkunbrokenlyofanyothersubject,eventhemosthabitualandsoliciting.