"At least, they shall say of me," thought this exemplary man, "that I leave no public duty unperformed, nor ill performed!"

“至少，他们在谈起我时，”这位为人楷模人自忖，“会认为裁尽公职或草草了事！”

If the error is a matter of opinion and unpunishable, so much the better —an apology then becomes a gracious and creditable occasion, and an example to all.

如果过错是看法上事，且错当罚，那最好过――说一声“对起”就成了一个显示大会，可赞可叹，众人之楷模也。