Mary assured her father that she did. And now the officer was heard coming to separate them.
"Well," said her father, "I commend you to God and His grace. If I should not see you again, if this is the last time that I am permitted to talk with you, my daughter, at least be sure that I will not be long in following you to heaven. You may depend upon it that I shall not long survive this parting."
The time was now up, and, warned by the officer, the old man prepared to take his departure. Mary clung to him with all her strength, but her father was obliged to disengage himself as gently as he could, and Mary fell insensible upon her bed.
As soon as James was brought before the judge, he raised his hands to heaven, and cried out, almost beside himself—
"My daughter is innocent!"
The judge was deeply moved.
"I am disposed," he said, "for my own part to believe it. Unfortunately, I must judge the case from the nature of the testimony, with impartiality and even to the utmost rigour of the law."
CHAPTER VII.
SENTENCED.