“‘By the yelling of the people in the street. We could hardly keep her from going to the court-room; we couldn’t keep her away from the windows, watching for you and her husband to come back arm in arm. She was so confident he would be acquitted! For she said he was innocent, and being innocent, could not be found guilty and must be acquitted,’ replied their landlady.
“‘Ah! she knew nothing of the power of circumstantial evidence to convict an innocent man!’ groaned Joseph.
“‘Why, sir, she even packed her trunk to return to Stockton, for she said that neither she nor her husband, nor her brother, would want to stay another night in the town where they had suffered so much, but would take the first train back to their cottage and be at peace.’
“‘Poor child! Poor child!’
“‘And then, while she was watching for you and him from the window, and turning round every few minutes to ask me to be sure to keep the water boiling so as to make tea the minute they should come in, or to please have the bacon grilled to a turn, or something of that sort, all of a sudden she heard the boys in the street shouting to one another that Weston, the mail-robber, was found guilty and sentenced to be hanged o’ Monday week!’
“‘She heard that? Oh, poor Lil!’
“‘She heard that, sir, and afore any one could stop her she was out in the street, in the freezing winter night, without shawl or bonnet, to inquire into the truth. I just whipped a plaid shawl over my head and ran out to fetch her in. I found her prostrate and insensible on the ground, with a crowd of people gathered around her. We raised her and brought her in and laid her on the bed and brought her to. But as soon as she got back her senses to know what had happened, she fell into such convulsions that we had to send for Dr. Yorke, and he gave her summat to quiet her and put her to sleep. And that’s all, sir,’ concluded the landlady.
“The doctor gave directions for the treatment of his patient during the night, and left, promising to return early the next morning.
“The tired landlady went to rest, asking to be called at any time if she should be wanted.
“And Joseph Wyvil took his seat by the bedside of his unfortunate sister, to watch her sleep and dread her waking.