As this had been a continuous narrative and concisely told, the coroner had not interrupted her. When at this point a little gasp escaped Miss Tuttle and a groan broke from Francis Jeffrey’s hitherto sealed lips, the feelings of the whole assemblage seemed to find utterance. A young wife’s misery culminating in death on the very spot where she had been so lately married! What could be more thrilling, or appeal more closely to the general heart of humanity? But the cause of that misery! This was what every one present was eager to have explained. This is what we now expected the coroner to bring out. But instead of continuing on the line he had opened up, he proceeded to ask:
“Where were you when this officer brought the news you mention?”
“In the hall, sir. I opened the door for him.”
“And to whom did he first mention his errand?”
“To Miss Tuttle. She had come in just before him and was standing at the foot of the stairs.”
“What! Was Miss Tuttle out that evening?”
“Yes; she went out very soon after Mrs. Jeffrey left. When she came in she said that she had been around the block, but she must have gone around it more than once, for she was absent two hours.”
“Did you let her in?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And she said she had been around the block?”