It is my fault, uncle, my fault, my fault! God forgive me!" "Nae, nae, lassie; I am far from innocent mysel';" and with these mournful accusations they parted for ever.
For Isabel's sickness suddenly assumed an alarming character, and her dissolution was so rapid that John had scarcely got back to Glasgow ere David was sent for to see his wife die.

He came back a bereaved and very wretched man; the great house was dismantled and sold, and he went home once more to Blytheswood Square.
But he could not go back to his old innocent life and self; and the change only revealed to John how terribly far astray his nephew had gone.

And even Isabel's death had no reforming influence on him; it only roused regrets and self-reproaches, which made liquor all the more necessary to him.

Then the breaking up of the house entailed much bargain-making, all of which was unfortunately cemented with glasses of whiskey toddy.

Still his uncle had some new element of hope on which to work.