Mr。Delamaynassertsthatthispersonintheback-groundhasnoclaimonhim，andbackshisassertionbydeclaringthatsheismarriedalreadytoMr。ArnoldBrinkworth。LadyLundieandmynieceassureme，onevidencewhichsatisfies_them，_thattheassertionistrue。Theevidencedoesnotsatisfy_me。_’Ihope，SirPatrick，Idon’tstrikeyouasbeinganexcessivelyobstinateman？’——’MydearSir，youimpressmewiththehighestopinionofyourcapacityforsiftinghumantestimony!MayIask，next，whatcourseyoumeantotake？’——’TheverythingIwasgoingtomention，SirPatrick!Thisismycourse。Irefusetosanctionmyniece’sengagementtoMr。Delamayn，untilMr。Delamaynhasactuallyprovedhisstatementbyappealtowitnessesofthelady’smarriage。Herefersmetotwowitnesses；butdeclinesactingatonceinthematterforhimself，onthegroundthatheisintrainingforafoot-race。Iadmitthatthatisanobstacle，andconsenttoarrangeforbringingthetwowitnessestoLondonmyself。BythispostIhavewrittentomylawyersinPerthtolookthewitnessesup；toofferthemthenecessarytermsatMr。
Delamayn’sexpensefortheuseoftheirtime；andtoproducethembytheendoftheweek。ThefootraceisonThursdaynext。
Mr。Delamaynwillbeabletoattendafterthat，andestablishhisownassertionbyhisownwitnesses。Whatdoyousay，SirPatrick，toSaturdaynextwithLadyLundie’spermissioninthisroom？’——Thereisthesubstanceofthecaptain’sstatement。HeisasoldasIamandisdressedtolooklikethirty；butaverypleasantfellowforallthat。Istruckmysister-in-lawdumbbyacceptingtheproposalwithoutamoment’shesitation。Mrs。
GlenarmandLadyLundielookedateachotherinmuteamazement。
Herewasadifferenceaboutwhichtwowomenwouldhavemortallyquarreled；andhereweretwomensettlingitinthefriendliestpossiblemanner。IwishyouhadseenLadyLundie’sface，whenI