s heart
a prepossession for some young lady? Mr. O'Laugher must insist on
having an answer to this question; as it was absolutely necessary
the jury should know the nature of a witness's temperament, whose
evidence was chiefly one of opinion, and not of facts; how could
they otherwise know what weight to give to his testimony? Hadn't he
usually a prepossession in his heart for some young lady? There was a
great deal of hesitation about this question, but at last he was got
to inform the jury on his oath that he usually--in fact always--did
entertain such a prepossession. Was he not fond of conversing with
the lady who for the time might be the object of this feeling? He
supposed he was. Of walking with her? No, not particularly of walking
with her. Did he never walk with his loved one? He didn't think
he ever did, except by accident. Weren't such happy accidents of
frequent occurrence? They might be. Weren't they gratifying accidents
when they did occur? Why, yes; he supposed they were. Then he _was_
fond of walking with his loved one? Why, taking it in that way, he
supposed he was. Mr. O'Laugher supposed so too. Did he never whisper
to this loved object? No, never. What, never? Never. What; could
he swear that he had never whispered to the present object of his
adoration? He had no object of adoration. Well, then, object of love?
He had no object of love; that is, he wouldn't say whether he had
or not. He thought it very hard that he should be asked all these
questions. Well, then, object of prepossession. Could he swear that
he had never whispered with the present object of his prepossession?
Never--except in church; that was to say, he couldn't tell. Never
except in church--never walk with her except by accident! Mr.
O'Laugher surmised that the witness was a very cautious fellow--quite
an old bird--not to be caught with chaff. Did he never sit by her?
Sit by who? By the object of his prepossession? He supposed he might,
at dinner, or at a party, or a concert or a ball.

"What! sit by the object you love best at a concert, and not
whisper to her between the tunes--and you a Connaught man!" said
Mr. O'Laugher. "Come, mend your reputation a little; wasn't that a
slip you made, when you said now you'd never whispered to her at a
concert?" Perhaps he had at a concert. "Well, now, I thought so. I
thought by your complexion you wouldn't sit by a pretty girl, and
take no notice of her. Did you never squeeze a girl's hand wh