An act of madness--that's what it is, if she really mean what she says." He turned my way, and looked as he used to look at the afternoon service when he was catechising an obstinate child.

"You don't mean it," he said, "do you ?" "I am sorry to forfeit your good opinion, uncle," I replied.

"But I must own that I do certainly mean it." "In plain English," retorted the vicar, "you are conceited enough to think that you can succeed where the greatest lawyers in Scotland have failed.

_They_ couldn't prove this man's innocence, all working together.

And _you_ are going to prove it single-handed?
Upon my word, you are a wonderful woman," cried my uncle, suddenly descending from indignation to irony.