"I must go; please
help me. He may be tried before I can get there!"
"Alas! I fear that will be the case, whatever haste you make. The trial
was to come on at the Hellingford Assizes, and that town stands first on
the Midland Circuit list. To-day is the 27th of February; the assizes
begin on the 7th of March."
"I will start to-morrow morning early for Civita; there may be a boat
there they do not know of here. At any rate, I shall be on my way. If
he dies, I must die too. Oh! I don't know what I am saying, I am so
utterly crushed down! It would be such a kindness if you would go away,
and let no one come to me. I know Mrs. Forbes is so good, she will
forgive me. I will say good-by to you all before I go to-morrow morning;
but I must think now."
For one moment he stood looking at her as if he longed to comfort her by
more words. He thought better of it, however, and silently left the
room.
For a long time Ellinor sat still; now and then taking up Miss Monro's
letter, and re-reading the few terrible details. Then she bethought her
that possibly the canon might have brought a copy of the _Times_,
containing the examination of Dixon before the magistrates, and she
opened the door and called to a passing servant to make the inquiry. She
was quite right in her conjecture; Dr. Livingstone had had the paper in
his pocket during his interview with her; but he thought the evidence so
conclusive, that the perusal of it would only be adding to her extreme
distress by accelerating the conviction of Dixon's guilt, which he
believed she must arrive at sooner or later.
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