"
"When?"
"The Saturday but one after the Judges left the town, I suppose--it's the
usual time."
"Who tried him?"
"Judge Corbet; and, for a new judge, I must say I never knew one who got
through his business so well. It was really as much as I could stand to
hear him condemning the prisoner to death. Dixon was undoubtedly guilty,
and he was as stubborn as could be--a sullen old fellow who would let no
one help him through. I'm sure I did my best for him at Miss Monro's
desire and for your sake. But he would furnish me with no particulars,
help us to no evidence. I had the hardest work to keep him from
confessing all before witnesses, who would have been bound to repeat it
as evidence against him. Indeed, I never thought he would have pleaded
'Not Guilty.' I think it was only with a desire to justify himself in
the eyes of some old Hamley acquaintances. Good God, Miss Wilkins!
What's the matter? You're not fainting!" He rang the bell till the rope
remained in his hands. "Here, Esther! Jerry! Whoever you are, come
quick! Miss Wilkins has fainted! Water! Wine! Tell Mrs. Johnson to
come here directly!"
Mrs. Johnson, a kind, motherly woman, who had been excluded from the
"gentleman's dinner party," and had devoted her time to superintending
the dinner her husband had ordered, came in answer to his call for
assistance, and found Ellinor lying back in her chair white and
senseless.
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