"
"I again declare, before Heaven, woman, that, to the best of my
knowledge and recollection, I never saw your daughter. I now
think I have some faint recollection of having seen your face, but
where, or in what place, puzzles me quite."
"And, why?" said she. "Because for months and days you have
been, in such a state of extreme inebriety, that your time has
gone over like a dream that has been forgotten. I believe that,
from the day you came first to my house, you have been in a state
of utter delirium, and that principally from the fumes of wine and
ardent spirits."
"It is a manifest falsehood!" said I. "I have never, since I entered
on the possession of Dalcastle, tasted wine or spirits, saving once
a few evenings ago; and, I confess to my shame, that I was led
too far; but I have craved forgiveness and obtained it. I take my
noble and distinguished friend there for a witness to the truth of
what I assert; a man who has done more, and sacrificed more for
the sake of genuine Christianity than any this world contains.
Him you will believe."
"I hope you have attained forgiveness," said he, seriously.
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