But I will reply for her, and in a manner which you cannot dispute.
You desire to know whether Lucy Ashton, of her own free will, desires to annual the engagement into which she has been trepanned.

You have her letter under her own hand, demanding the surrender of it; and, in yet more full evidence of her purpose, here is the contract which she has this morning subscribed, in presence of this reverence gentleman, with Mr.Hayston of Bucklaw." Ravenswood gazed upon the deed as if petrified.

"And it was without fraud or compulsion," said he, looking towards the clergyman, "that Miss Ashton subscribed this parchment ?" "I couch it upon my sacred character." "This is indeed, madam, an undeniable piece of evidence," said Ravenswood, sternly; "and it will be equally unnecessary and dishonourable to waste another word in useless remonstrance or reproach.
There, madam," he said, laying down before Lucy the signed paper and the broken piece of gold--"there are the evidences of your first engagement; may you be more faithful to that which you have just formed.

I will trouble you to return the corresponding tokens of my ill-placed confidence; I ought rather to say, of my egregious folly." Lucy returned the scornful glance of her lover with a gaze from which perception seemed to have been banished; yet she seemed partly to have understood his meaning, for she raised her hands as if to undo a blue ribbon which she wore around her neck.

She was unable to accomplish her purpose, but Lady Ashton cut the ribbon asunder, and detached the broken piece of gold, which Miss Ashton had till then worn concealed in her bosom; the written counterpart of the lovers' engagement she for some time had had in her own possession.