His lawyer was to call for him on the morning of the trial, and Mrs. Woodward was to be at the house soon after he had left it. He had not yet seen her since the inquiry had commenced, and it was very plain that he did not wish to do so. Mrs. Woodward was to be there and to remain till his fate had been decided, and then— Not a word had yet been said as to the chance of his not returning; but Mrs. Woodward was aware that he would probably be unable to do so, and felt, that if such should be the case, she could not leave her daughter alone.
And so Alaric and his wife sat down to breakfast on that last morning. She had brought their boy down; but as she perceived that the child's presence did not please his father, he had been sent back to the nursery, and they were alone. She poured out his tea for him, put bread upon his plate, and then sat down close beside him, endeavouring to persuade him to eat. She had never yet found fault with him, she had never even ventured to give him counsel, but now she longed to entreat him to collect himself and take a man's part in the coming trial. He sat in the seat prepared for him, but, instead of eating, he thrust his hands after his accustomed manner into his pockets and sat glowering at the tea-cups.
'Come, Alaric, won't you eat your breakfast?' said she.
'No; breakfast! no-how can I eat now? how can you think that I could eat at such a time as this? Do you take yours; never mind me.'
'But, dearest, you will be faint if you do not eat; think what you have to go through; remember how many eyes will be on you to-day.'
He shuddered violently as she spoke, and motioned to her with his hand not to go on with what she was saying.
'I know, I know,' said she passionately, 'dearest, dearest love—I know how dreadful it is; would that I could bear it for you! would that I could!'
He turned away his head, for a tear was in his eye. It was the first that had come to his assistance since this sorrow had come upon him.
'Don't turn from me, dearest Alaric; do not turn from me now at our last moments. To me at least you are the same noble Alaric that you ever were.'
'Noble!' said he, with all the self-scorn which he so truly felt.