"I have not condemned it, my dear Bishop. No."
"Very well, then, my dear Reverend, please proceed."
Now the interposition of the Bishop, had rather disconcerted the Elder. Had he been allowed to proceed in the manner he had planned and started to, he might have made the case from his standpoint, and under the circumstances very clear to the Bishop. But the latter's questions threw him off his line, and he started again with some embarrassment, and with the perspiration beginning to appear around the point of his nose. Appreciating, however that he was expected to explain, he went resolutely back to the task.
"Well, my wife allowed my daughter to be taken out there and file on this land that this man had secured on his representation that he wished to marry her, and when I came into the city it was all settled."
"Pardon me for interrupting you again, my dear Elder. But is it not a fact that Mrs. Pruitt, with whom you are well acquainted, accompanied your daughter on this trip?"
"It is so, Bishop."
"And is it not a fact that Mrs. Pruitt as well as your daughter, explained it all at the time with satisfaction to you?"
"Well, ah—yes, she did."
"You admit to this, then, my dear Reverend?"
"Under the circumstances at the time, I was rather compelled to, my dear Bishop."