"Yes, ma'am. I was the witness as had never signed but once," said Bridget, getting up and curtsying. Then she sat down again, folding her hands one over the other on her lap.
"Oh, indeed!" said Mrs. Smiley. "But where's the other witness, Mrs. Moulder? He's the one who is a deal more interesting to me. Ha, ha, ha! But as you all know it here, what's the good of not telling the truth? Ha, ha, ha!"
"John's here," said Mrs. Moulder. "Come, John, why don't you show yourself?"
"He's just alive, and that's about all you can say for him," said Moulder.
"Why, what's there been to kill him?" said Mrs. Smiley. "Well, John, I must say you're rather backward in coming forward, considering what there's been between us. You might have come and taken my shawl, I'm thinking."
"Yes, I might," said Kenneby gloomily. "I hope I see you pretty well, Mrs. Smiley."
"Pretty bobbish, thank you. Only I think it might have been Maria between friends like us."
"He's sadly put about by this trial," whispered Mrs. Moulder. "You know he is so tender-hearted that he can't bear to be put upon like another."
"But you didn't want her to be found guilty; did you, John?"
"That I'm sure he didn't," said Moulder. "Why it was the way he gave his evidence that brought her off."