There was a desperate
precipitance in the reply of Forrester:--
"True--Katharine--true; every word of it is true. Do you not see it
written in my face? Am I not choked--do not my knees tremble? and my
hands--look for yourself--are they not covered with blood?"
The youth interposed, and for a moment doubted the sanity of his
companion. He had spoken in figure--a mode of speech, which it is a
mistake in rhetoricians to ascribe only to an artificial origin, during
a state of mental quiet. Deep passion and strong excitements, we are
bold to say, employ metaphor largely; and, upon an inspection of the
criminal records of any country, it will be found that the most common
narrations from persons deeply wrought upon by strong circumstances are
abundantly stored with the evidence of what we assert.
"And how came it, Mark?" was the inquiry of the maiden; "and why did you
this thing?"
"Ay, you may well ask, and wonder. I can not tell you. I was a fool--I
was mad! I knew not what I did.
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