A moment, Miss Morris,--a single
moment! The epithets you have used, the--er--vigorous
characterization of our--er--conduct, is--er--within the--er--
strict rules of legal advocacy, correct. We are--er--rascals! we
are--er--scoundrels! we are--er--well, I am not--er--prepared to
say that we are not--er--demn me--hypocrites! But the young man
you speak of--our son, whose past life (speaking as Col. Starbottle)
no one more sincerely deprecates than myself,--that young man has
reformed; has been for the past few months a miracle of sobriety,
decorum, and industry; has taken, thanks to the example of--er--
friends, a position of integrity in his father's business, of filial
obedience in his father's household; is, in short, a paragon; and,
demn me, I doubt if he's his father's son.
Miss Mary. Enough, sir! You are waiting for my answer. There is
no reason why it should not be as precise, as brief, and as formal
as your message. Go to my cousin; say that you saw the person
he claims as his relation; say that you found her, a poor
schoolmistress, in a rude mining camp, dependent for her bread on
the scant earnings of already impoverished men, dependent for her
honor on the rude chivalry of outcasts and vagabonds; and say that
then and there she repudiated your kinship, and respectfully
declined your invitation.
Starbottle (aside). Ged! Star! this is the--er--female of your
species! This is the woman--the--er--one woman--for whom you are
responsible, sir!--personally responsible!
Miss Mary (coldly).
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