Alice, or The Mysteries, Book III 8.8.96

Alice, or The Mysteries, Book III - BEFORE a large table, covered with parliamentary papers, sat Lumley Lord Vargrave.  His complexion, though still healthy, had faded from the freshness of hue which distinguished him in youth.  His features, always sharp, had grown yet more angular: his brows seemed to project more broodingly over his eyes, which, though of undiminished brightness, were unk deep in their sockets, and had lost much of their quick restlessness.  The character of his mind had begun to stamp itself on the physiognomy, especially on the mouth when in repose.  It was, a face striking for acute intelligence, for concentrated energy; but there was a something written in it which said, "BEWARE!"  It would have inspired any one who had mixed much amongst men with a vague suspicion and distrust.

• Alice, or The Mysteries, Book X by Edward Bulwer Lytton.
• And Alice!--Will the world blame us if you are left happy at the last?
• We are daily banishing from our law-books the statutes that disproportion
  punishment to crime.
• Daily we preach the doctrine that we demoralize wherever we strain justice into cruelty.
• It is time that we should apply to the Social Code the Wisdom we recognize in Legislation! 
• It is time that we should do away with the punishment of death for inadequate
  offences, even in books.
• It is time that we should allow the morality of atonement, and permit to Error the right to hope, as the reward ofsubmission to its suffering.
• Nor let it be thought that the close to Alice's career can offer temptation to the offence of its commencement.
• Eighteen years of sadness, a youth consumed in silent sorrow over the grave of Joy, have images that throw over these pages a dark and warning.