'For your conduct in introducing your mistress to my wife and sister, I demand immediate satisfaction. As you may possibly not have recovered your indisposition of last night, and I wish to take no unfair advantages, I do not desire you to meet me till evening; but at six o'clock, a mile out of the north side of the town, I shall expect you.--I can lend you pistols if you have none.' 'There is only one step to be taken,' said Glenmurray mentally, starting up and dressing himself: and in a few moments he was at Major Douglas's lodgings. The major had just finished dressing, when Glenmurray was announced. He started and turned pale at seeing him; then, dismissing his servant and taking up his hat and his pistols, he desired Glenmurray to walk out with him. 'With all my heart,' replied Glenmurray. But recollecting himself, 'No, no,' said he: 'I come hither now, merely to talk to you; and if, after what has passed, the ladies should see us go out together, they would be but too sure of what was going to happen, and might follow us.' 'Well, then sir,' cried the major, 'we had better separate till evening.' 'I shall not leave you, Major Douglas,' replied Glenmurray solemnly, 'whatever harsh things you may say or do, till I have made you listen to me.' 'How can I listen to you, when nothing you can say can be a justification of your conduct?' 'I do not mean to offer any.--I am only come to tell you my story, with that of my companion, and my resolutions in consequence of my situation; and I conjure you, by the recollections of our early days, of our past pleasures and fatigues, those days when fatigue itself was a pleasure, and I was not the weak emaciated being that I am now, unable to bear exertion, and overcome even to female weakness by agitation of mind such as I experienced last night--' 'For God's sake sit down,' cried the major, glancing his eye over the faded form of Glenmurray.--Glenmurray sat down. 'I say, I conjure you by these recollections,' he continued, 'to hear me with candour and patience. Weakness will render me brief.' Here he paused to wipe the damps from his forehead; and Douglas, in a voice of emotion, desired him to say whatever he chose, but to say it directly. 'I will,' replied Glenmurray; 'for indeed there is one at home who will be alarmed at my absence.' The major frowned; and, biting his lip, said, 'Proceed, Mr Glenmurray,' in his usual tone.