"And being on these terms, you are going to join the very army in
which my brother Falconer is now serving?"

"No man knows the path of honour better than Major Falconer,"
said Sir Philip. "An aspirant after fame, like me, cannot choose
a better guide than his footsteps."

Lady Bothwell rose and went to the window, the tears gushing from
her eyes.

"And this heartless raillery," she said, "is all the
consideration that is to be given to our apprehensions of a
quarrel which may bring on the most terrible consequences? Good
God! of what can men's hearts be made, who can thus dally with
the agony of others?"

Sir Philip Forester was moved; he laid aside the mocking tone in
which he had hitherto spoken.

"Dear Lady Bothwell," he said, taking her reluctant hand, "we are
both wrong. You are too deeply serious; I, perhaps, too little
so. The dispute I had with Major Falconer was of no earthly
consequence. Had anything occurred betwixt us that ought to have
been settled PAR VOIE DU FAIT, as we say in France, neither of us
are persons that are likely to postpone such a meeting. Permit
me to say, that were it generally known that you or my Lady
Forester are apprehensive of such a catastrophe, it might be the
very means of bringing about what would not otherwise be likely
to happen. I know your good sense, Lady Bothwell, and that you