The Heart of Mid-Lothian - Penn State University

CHAPTER TENTH
And now, will pardon, comfort, kindness, draw
The youth from vice? will honour, duty, law?
Sir Walter Scott
Crabbe.
JEANIE AROSE from her seat, and made her quiet reverence,
when the elder Mr. Staunton entered the apartment.
His astonishment was extreme at finding his son
in such company.
“I perceive, madam, I have made a mistake respecting
you, and ought to have left the task of interrogating
you, and of righting your wrongs, to this young man,
with whom, doubtless, you have been formerly acquainted.”
“It’s unwitting on my part that I am here;” said Jeanie;
“the servant told me his master wished to speak with me.”
415
“There goes the purple coat over my ears,” murmured
Tummas. “D—n her, why must she needs speak the
truth, when she could have as well said anything else
she had a mind?”
“George,” said Mr. Staunton, “if you are still, as you
have ever been,—lost to all self-respect, you might at
least have spared your father and your father’s house,
such a disgraceful scene as this.”
“Upon my life—upon my soul, sir!” said George,
throwing his feet over the side of the bed, and starting
from his recumbent posture.
“Your life, sir?” interrupted his father, with melancholy
sternness,— “What sort of life has it been?—Your
soul! alas! what regard have you ever paid to it? Take
care to reform both ere offering either as pledges of your
sincerity.”
“On my honour, sir, you do me wrong,” answered
George Staunton; “I have been all that you can call me
that’s bad, but in the present instance you do me injustice.
By my honour you do!”
“Your honour!” said his father, and turned from him,