“Keep up your spirits, lass! don’t let the beaks see you down in the mouth! Lawk, it is only the first time going as is awful. By the time you’ve been hauled up afore the beak as often as I has, you won’t mind it more’n I do. Will she, Nance?”
“Not a bit of it,” said the girl addressed.
Eudora shuddered throughout her frame at this horrible style of consolation. And yet so real is the link that binds together the whole brotherhood and sisterhood of man and woman, and so intense in times of trouble is the craving of the human heart for human sympathy, that it was with feelings of longing and regret Eudora saw these wretched women depart.
She was left quite alone for an hour; at the end of which the detective Sims brought her some coffee and bread, of which he kindly advised her to partake.
“How long shall I have to remain here?” inquired the poor girl.
“Your examination before the magistrates is fixed for noon. It can’t take place before, because of the witnesses having to be brought together.”
“Thank you. Will you set down the coffee, and be kind enough to procure me a pitcher of water?”
The officer nodded, and went and brought the required refreshment, and then retired and barred the door upon the solitary prisoner.
And as soon as she was again left alone, Eudora, over whose habits of neatness no misfortune could prevail, took combs, brushes, and a towel from her travelling-bag, and with the aid of the jug of water, bathed her face, combed her hair, and arranged her dress as well as with her manacled hands she could. Then she drank the coffee and tried to compose her mind for the severe ordeal before her.
She had not long to wait. At a quarter to twelve the bars once more fell with a clang, the door was opened, and the two officers entered to conduct her before the magistrates. With her fettered hands she managed to put on her bonnet, but could not contrive to arrange her shawl; but Sims performed this service for her with gentleness and delicacy, folding the shawl so as to conceal the manacles.