Tell me, Malcolm, tell me," continued Mary, placing her arms about my neck and clinging to me, "tell me, you, to whom I gave my maiden's love, you who have my woman's heart, tell me, do you believe that I could willingly have married Bothwell, even though my heart had not been filled with the image of you, who are strong, gentle, and beautiful ?" You, if you are a man, may think that in my place you would have resisted the attack of this beautiful queen, but if so you think--pardon me, my friend--you are a fool.

Under the spell of her magic influence I wavered in the conviction which had long since come upon me, that I had for years been her fool and her dupe.

I forgot the former lessons I had learned from her perfidy.

I forgot my manhood.

I forgot all of good that had of late grown up in me.