Lady Arabella walked noiselessly over the grass, and, when she reached the edge of the group, stopped. Her eyes were full of laughing contempt at first, but, when Overton turned his glance full upon her, she suddenly assumed a look of seriousness, and folded her hands as if in silent prayer. Behind her, Mrs. Whitall’s foolish face was all fear, while Sir Thomas Vernon grinned unpleasantly over her shoulder. Overton, without taking the slightest notice of them, at the conclusion of the hymn announced that he would make a prayer, and asked his hearers to join with him in a petition that the life might be spared of a certain young man, Giles Vernon, now under sentence of death in York jail. We all stood up, then, the men removing their hats. I held mine before my face to conceal my tears, while Overton made a brief but earnest prayer for Giles, and I could not refrain from crying, “Amen! Amen!” when he concluded.
The people then trooped off, and we, the gentlefolks, were left together.
Overton surveyed Lady Arabella and Sir Thomas with much contempt. Lady Arabella was the first to speak. She held up her head timidly, and said,—
“Will you not speak to me?”
“No,” replied Overton sternly. “Giles Vernon’s life may be spared; but upon you is blood-guiltiness.”
Arabella turned pale, and replied,—
“I was summoned as a witness. I was obliged to testify.”
Overton said nothing. Then Sir Thomas, taking snuff with his usual grace, remarked,—
“I listened with attention to one lawbreaker praying for another lawbreaker. Of course, you know, this meeting of yours is seditious—and many a man has been stood in the pillory for it.”
“And one Man,” replied Overton, “Jesus Christ, was crucified for it.”