Mildred Arkell, (Vol 3 of 3)

all Westerbury-at least, as many as could push in-were anxious to hear his lordship's summing up. At twenty-eight minu

his place in the Nisi Prius. His lordship had his notes in his hand, and was turni

n unexpected witness has arisen; a most important witness; one who will testify to the abstraction from th

d all who espoused that side, looked contemptuous daggers of incredulity at S

uth and manhood. The judge put his silver glasses across his nose a

tness," cried

ness wa

ame?" demanded

heveley

do you

ry, near the

d a chorister, are you not?" interposed th

r, my lord, and

on a certain night of last Nov

the twe

And how came yo

noon school was over, and some one locked me in

ocked

fterwards heard that it w

jury wha

ndered which was the jury. Not knowing, he stood as he had done b

e me. I saw two people stealing up the church with a light; they turned into the vestry,

e those

eard was Rolls. George Prattleton unlocked the safe and gave Rolls the regis

xt did y

es from the bench at the entrance door. As soon as George Prattleton had gone for them, a light reappeared in the vestry, and I saw Rolls place what looked to be a piece of thi

attleton see n

stry was in darkness, as he had left it. 'Nothing risk, nothin

er t

inued to look over the register, and George Prattleton grumbled at him for being so long. Presently R

he meant by 'it.' Can you

tleton,' he said. 'Hurrah! It will be thousands of pounds in our pockets. When the other side brought f

ext hap

d I saw them both come from the church, and Mr. George Prattleton locked it and put the key in his pocket. I heard them disputing at the door, when they found it open; Rolls a

who had unlocked it,

a hurry, for fear they should

veral more questions had been asked of Henry, and he rose to cros

s wish; for all did believe him; and Serjeant Siftem's searching questions, and insinuations that the fa

anding the attendance of Roland Lewis. Mr. Roberts, confounded by their appearance, and perplexed by the obscure tale of the messenger, that "two of the college gentlemen, Lewis and another, was found to have had

aid Serjeant Wrangle, after Lewis

d scarcely speak for fright; which was not lessened when he caug

the church of St. James the Less, one afternoon last N

lm his breathing, and glared fearfull

ing but the truth, sir, and you must do so," said the judge, star

-e

e for doing so?" ask

in fun. I didn't

his own in the college school, and thought how horrible might b

id you leav

the clerk's, and the next morning, whe

you?" cried Serjeant Wran

d him to get the key, for Hunt would not let me have it. So he was coming with me to open the c

ought having occurred to him, desired that the Reverend Mr. Wilberforce might get into the wi

kell, is under your tuition in

orce, who had not forgotten Serjeant

elieve him o

ath, or w

rted the Serjeant. "Schoolboys a

ct integrity. His word m

ul nature," spoke up the dean, from his place beside the judg

, drowning the dean's voice. "I have done with you, Mr. Wilberfor

Serjeant Siftem. "Should you know this fabulous gentleman

"I saw him this mornin

up Serje

see him?" inq

that his name is Rolls," added the witness. "When I pointed him out to Mr. Fa

ourt to find this Rolls or Richards, and bring him before the judge. But Rolls had made himself scarce ere the conclusion of Henry Arkell

Henry Cheveley Arkell," said Serjeant Wrangle. "Can

, who was very down in the mouth-as his looks were desc

vidence, sir,"

him; that is, he scraped acquaintance with me, and we were soon intimate. Then he began to make use of me; he asked if I would do him a favour. He wanted to get a private sight of the register in St. J

reference to the case of Carr versu

wanted to look. He would go in at night: if he were seen entering the church in the day, it might be fatal to his client's cause, was the tale he told

the key of the

with the Reverend Mr. Prattleton,

as we will call him)

hich were left on the bench at the entrance door. It must have been done then. Soon after I returned he gave me back the register, sayin

ened by one who had watched your p

, and I have never been able to see him since. That's all I know of the transaction, and I ca

h a severe countenance. "Allow me to ask you, sir, when it was you first beca

d have given much not to be obliged to do so: but the cou

kell, the college boy, came and

it, and to have had steps taken to arrest your c

veracity, and therefore-as is sure to be the case-imparting to it just the contrary. "I could not believe that Roll

e upon the point, the be

d his party had been conferring in whis

pon my instructors, Mynn and Mynn, w

Mynn, I am informed," interrupted the judge, in as signifi

than likely he is already endeavouring to effect, he will probably at the next assizes find himself placed before your lordship for judgment, should you happen

nst Mynn and Mynn in connexion with it

plied the counsel, in a lofty ton

e that you need not take up the time o

etrated than the public must be. But this evidence, which has come upon them in so overwhelming a manner, they feel they cannot hope to confute. I am

," replied

tors. For once the Right had prospered. But Westerbury held its breath with awe when it came to reflect that it was the revengeful act of R

ildhall. "Tell me," said he, but not in an angry tone, "how much more that is in

don't think there

ould not have disclosed at the time all you had b

George Prattleton, sir; and if I had, he

ht too," said

daughter, Frederick St. John, an

call yourse

miled f

romoted into one. Do you know what I wished

, s

were my

at him: her face retained its calmness, but a flush of cr

an, releasing Henry. "No excuse about lessons now: you

s,

there. The one who tried the cause said he should

, sir. I w

odded to him in triumph a dozen tim

's party came the Rev. Mr. Prattl

e me, sir. I could not

out. I have recommended Mr. George to get out of the town for a while; not to remain in it in idleness and trouble my t

id acknowledge that Richards came to him one evening, and said he thought the cause was likely to be imperilled by "certain proceedings" that the other side were taking. He, Valentine Carr, authorized him to do what he could to counteract these proceedings (only intending him to act in a fair manner), and gave him carte blanche in a moderate way for the money that might be required. He acknowled

ed him to win the battle, went down that same day to Peter Arkell's and forgave him the miserable debt that had so long hampered him

t was a satisfactory termination to

als of wide imaginations, that could not usually separate them-were pleasant men, and their faces did not look so yellow by candle-light. They talked to Henry a great deal, and he had to rehearse over, for the general benefit, all the scene of

. John: gay, laughing, animated, her thoughts, her words, were all for him. Sarah Beauclerc, conspicuous that night for her beauty, sat opposite to them, but St. John had not the opportunity of speaking to her, beyond a passing word now and again.

y watching that sofa at a distance? It was so different, this sitting still, from her usual

n, speaking in her most familiar manner, but in a lo

cast down, her fingers unconsciously pulled apart the petals of some geranium she held; her whole attitude bespoke

St. John. "Breaking someb

have more consideration," she continued. "It is all very well when Lady Anne's not present, but when she is-The

though he had not heard. Sa

tion to me-learnt, as I have repeatedly told you, from the housemaids, unless

oo bad of you, Sarah, with his future wife pr

raight up to Henry Arkell. "Why

" he r

ing his head upon his hand. It wa

; I forgot your fall.

hink I can

een telling them all about you, and the whole romance, you know, of Mrs. Peter Arkell's marriage, for one of them-it was t

and like-"Shall I, wasting in despair." At its conclusion one of the judges-it was the old one, as

Henry Arkell-and then the grand old hymn, in all its beautiful simplicity, burst upon their ears. Never had it been done greater justice to than it was by that solitary college boy. The room was hushed to stillness; the walls e

the piano, as if nothing else must be allowed to come after that; and the tacit mandate was a

nd its self-absorption, and Georgina Bea

was aching? None, with any sort of sickness

heart sicknes

to be absurd again!

I have been foolish enough-fond enough, I might say

etter; you wil

what she had done, by his quivering lip. Leaning across him as he stood, under

h now, than go on in this dream of folly. Stay away for a short while i

to be the f

ice had so strange a sound in it. Every

et on well and become somebody grand, you and

in the last sentence, thoughtlessly though she had spoken it, there was an implied conscious

John looked round for hi

Arkell?" he ask

ked rou

answered. "He was in one of

hing new for

wide sense. Crazy wo

you mean,

There! that's all I am going to tell

k I understand without confe

care o

s that are most unlikely to be realized.

a little s

les and warn you of that? What false

is not in my nature to

g the sound, disliking the words, turned from her, and joined th