The influence of this address upon the unhappy girl was very beneficial; it inspired her with hope; it revived her sinking courage; it enabled her to look up and breathe.
The effect upon the spectators was seen by their changed expression. They no longer regarded the poor young prisoner with looks of horror, but with eyes full of compassion. But the effect upon our guileless friends of the Anchorage was noteworthy.
“Well, now, perhaps after all she did not do it, poor thing!” observed the blunt admiral, whose convictions were shaken by Mr. Fenton’s address.
“Didn’t do it? Why, of course she didn’t do it!” exclaimed Mrs. Stilton, who had been turned completely round by the advocate’s speech; “it’s certain she didn’t do it. Haven’t you just heard the nice gentleman in the gown and wig explain how it was all a plot against her, poor dear, motherless child? It’s my belief as the attorney-general was in it; and it’s my hopes he’ll be found out and punished. I don’t believe the good Queen knew anything about it, as forward as they are using her name in the dockerments.”
“I love that dear, darling old Lawyer Fenton. Oh, how I do love him for his defence of poor Eudora! Yes, I do, Cousin Vally, and so you needn’t bite your underlip and frown. I do love him, and if he was to ask me to have him, I’d marry him to-morrow!” exclaimed Annella, to the annoyance of Mr. Valorous Brightwell, who could not see any reason for such enthusiastic gratitude.
But the clerk of arraigns was summoning witnesses for the defence, and the attention of the spectators was immediately attracted.
These witnesses were some of the household servants of Allworth Abbey, and some of the friends and neighbors of the Leaton family, who being in turn called and sworn, testified to the integrity and amiability of the prisoner, and the confidence and affection that existed between her and the deceased.
And with the examination of the last witness, the defence closed.
Alas! how weak it was, although the best that could be offered. To the attorney-general, indeed, the defence appeared so weak and so unlikely to influence in any way the decision of the jury, that he waived his right to reply upon the evidence adduced by the counsel for the prisoner, and left the case in the hands of the judge.
The Lord Chief Baron Elverton rose to sum up the evidence on each side, and to charge the jury.