I am that Ravenswood who, for your sake,
forgave, nay, clasped hands in friendship with, the oppressor and
pillager of his house, the traducer and murderer of his father."
"My daughter," answered Lady Ashton, interrupting him, "has no occasion
to dispute the identity of your person; the venom of your present
language is sufficient to remind her that she speaks with the moral
enemy of her father."
"I pray you to be patient, madam," answered Ravenswood; "my answer
must come from her own lips. Once more, Miss Lucy Ashton, I am that
Ravenswood to whom you granted the solemn engagement which you now
desire to retract and cancel."
Lucy's bloodless lips could only falter out the words, "It was my
mother."
"She speaks truly," said Lady Ashton, "it WAS I who, authorised alike
by the laws of God and man, advised her, and concurred with her, to
set aside an unhappy and precipitate engagement, and to annul it by the
authority of Scripture itself."
"Scripture!" said Ravenswood, scornfully.
"Let him hear the text," said Lady Ashton, appealing to the divine, "on
which you yourself, with cautious reluctance, declared the nullity of
the pretended engagement insisted upon by this violent man.
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