He neither courted their
assistance, nor dreaded their enmity, and he now proceeded to the
business of the hour with as much composure, as if the species of
patriarchal power, he wielded, was universally recognised.
There is something elevating in the possession of authority, however
it may be abused. The mind is apt to make some efforts to prove the
fitness between its qualities and the condition of its owner, though
it may often fail, and render that ridiculous which was only hated
before. But the effect on Ishmael Bush was not so disheartening. Grave
in exterior, saturnine by temperament, formidable by his physical
means, and dangerous from his lawless obstinacy, his self-constituted
tribunal excited a degree of awe, to which even the intelligent
Middleton could not bring himself to be entirely insensible. Little
time, however, was given to arrange his thoughts; for the squatter,
though unaccustomed to haste, having previously made up his mind, was
not disposed to waste the moments in delay.
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