“‘She is saved, Ed,’ he said in tone husky with emotion, ‘but she is lost to me forever! I have played such a contemptible part in this affair as to justify her in despising me, and to make me hate myself. I have deeply wronged her, and I must make up my mind to lose her.’
“‘Nonsense, Harry,’ said I; ‘she loves you as well as ever, and will be yours if you will only ask her; but come, Lottie sent me to bring you in, and she told me to caution you in regard to that unfortunate temper of yours.’
“‘I shall get along all right, unless Quillet offers me an insult; that, you know, I will not submit to, either in or out of court.’
“‘You and your case are both gone up the spout, Quillet,’ whispered Hogjaw as I entered the room, accompanied by Wallingford. ‘You are defeated, vanquished, quashed, conquered, overthrown, trampled under, ground up, and chopped into hash, all by a woman.’
“‘If that girl would agree to marry me,’ replied Quillet, ‘I think I could forgive her, and bear my defeat with becoming fortitude; but I tell you what it is, I mean to fight till the death, and die bravely in the last ditch, if die I must; and
“‘“Though I hope not hence unscathed to go,
Who conquers me shall find a stubborn foe.”’
“‘Proceed with the case, Mr. Rockland,’ said the judge, who began to show signs of impatience.
“‘Let Mr. Wallingford be sworn and placed under the rule until we examine Mr. Everson,’ said Mr. Rockland.
“That young man then took the stand. He was a sad-faced young man, whose features contained unmistakable evidence of untold sufferings endured.
“‘Mr. Everson,’ said Lottie, ‘were you ever acquainted with a young lady by the name of Victoria Totten?’