“I will do anything for her as she is. I will go and see her every week. I will go into society with her; but don’t make her your wife.” “I am the indirect cause of her wrongs, Julia; and I shall do what I can to atone for them.” “Anything, but do not marry her. I cannot explain why, but do not.” “Julia, I must marry her, for your sake as well as my own and hers.” “For my sake!” exclaimed she. “Why?” “I cannot explain why; but I must.” “Eugene, I hope you will think better of it. This is a rash resolve,” interposed his mother. “I will think of it, mother, as I ought; but I love her, and she must be mine.” And a new grief was added to the lot of Julia and her mother. CHAPTER XV. DR. BILKS ON THE STAND. To Dick Birch had been assigned the duty of providing counsel for the defence of Ross Kingman, and he had immediately secured the services of Mr. Darling, an eminent legal gentleman, residing in Summerville, the county town, where the examination was to take place. It had also been his purpose to add his own strength to that of the distinguished lawyer’s; but after the complications which the evening of the first day had produced, he was disposed to abandon this idea. On his way from Pine Hill to the hotel, while he was considering what had transpired in the library, he determined to follow his original intention. Early on the following morning he went to Summerville, and had an interview with Mr. Darling, to whom he fully and unreservedly explained his own position. He then went to the jail, where, as counsel for the prisoner, he was readily admitted. “I am glad to see you, Mr. Birch,” said Ross, as he entered. “This is not a pleasant place to live, but I suppose I must put up with it for some months yet.” “I’m afraid you must, Ross,” replied Dick, with more sympathy than a lawyer might be supposed to feel, though Dick was more than a lawyer in the present cause. “I shall bear it as well as I can. How is Mary?” “She was as well as usual when I heard from her last evening. She bears it better than any one could have expected.” “That is a great relief to me.” “But, Ross, I came to talk with you about your defence.” “Thank you, sir. I am afraid you have got a hard row to hoe,” added the prisoner, with a smile. “No, I think not; though I am rather sorry that you used your tongue so freely.” “I like to tell the truth. I had no more idea of denying what I had done, than I had of disowning my own name. But I want you to understand that I am not guilty of murder. I don’t feel any more like a murderer than you do, Mr. Birch. I have said the same thing to Mary, to Dr. Bilks, and to the sheriff.” “But it is a pity you acknowledged it in so many words.” “I killed Buckstone, and I meant to do so,” said Ross, with dignified firmness. “I am willing to say that to the jury; and then I want them to say whether I am guilty of murder.”