Speak out, 'squire--speak out; don't fear for me.

It must come, and who can better tell of it than you, who know it all ?" Thus urged, Ralph, in a few words, related the occurrence.

Though carefully avoiding the use of epithet or phrase which might color with an increased odium the connection and conduct of Forrester with the affair, the offence admitted of so little apology or extenuation, that the delicacy with which the details were narrated availed but little in its mitigation; and an involuntary cry burst from mother and daughter alike, to which the hollow groan that came from the lips of Forrester furnished a fitting echo.
"And this is all true, Mark--must I believe all this ?" was the inquiry of the young girl, after a brief interval.

There was a desperate precipitance in the reply of Forrester:-- "True--Katharine--true; every word of it is true.

Do you not see it written in my face?
Am I not choked--do not my knees tremble?
and my hands--look for yourself--are they not covered with blood ?" The youth interposed, and for a moment doubted the sanity of his companion.