Mary continued:-- "Have I ever injured you in any manner?
Have I ever harmed you by thought, word, or deed ?" Dorothy's only answer was a sob.
"Perhaps you are a canting fanatic, and it may be that you hate me for the sake of that which you call the love of God ?" "No, no, madam," I said, "that was not the reason." "Do you know the reason, Malcolm ?" asked Mary, addressing me for the first time.

My name upon her lips had a strange effect on me.

It was like the wafting to my nostrils of a sweet forgotten odor, or the falling upon my ears of a tender refrain of bygone days.

Her voice in uttering my name thrilled me, and I hated myself for my weakness.
I told Mary that I did not know Dorothy's reasons, and she continued:-- "Malcolm, you were not a party to my betrayal for the sake of revenging yourself on me ?" "God forbid!" I answered.

"Sir John Manners will assure you of my innocence.