Again the nurse listened, and this time she knew that something was taking place. It seemed to her like a shout of great multitudes, the roar of a mighty sea of voices, and it was coming nearer and nearer the house.
"Hurrah! Hurrah!"
"God bless ye!"
"He's saved!"
"He's innocent!"
"The truth has come out!"
She could only faintly distinguish the words, but this was what she thought she heard. It was like the roar of a great storm, the shout of a mighty multitude.
Still it came nearer and nearer, and the volume of sound ever increased.
The woman in her bed laughed. "Don't you see?" she said. "I left Manchester only yesterday, and that lassie came with me. Where is she noo? She'll be gone to meet Paul. Just think of it! I didn't think he could clear himself so soon, but she thought—ah, never mind what she thought!"
Still the roar of voices continued, ever increasing in volume and jubilancy.