“Ah well, that’s pretty much the same thing, I suppose,” returned the lawyer, with a short, dry laugh.
“It depends upon what construction you put upon the declaration,” suggested Mr. Chicknell.
“Just so. Well, that is how I construe it. The witness said Mr. Jamblin would have married her if he had lived. Did you not?”
This last query was directed to Nell.
“I believe he would ha’ done so,” she answered, hanging down her head.
“As an honourable man he was bound to do so. Was he not?”
“He was an honourable, good young man.”
“Ah, no doubt, but that is no answer to my question.”
“I cannot gi’ ee any other answer,” said the trembling girl.
“Oh, but you must. In plain words, you were already his mistress, and hoped to be his wife. Was that not so?”