"Miss Puttenham, I presume?" said the Coroner. "We were told, madam, that you were not well enough to give evidence."
Meynell was at her side.
"What do you wish?" he said, in a low voice, as he took her hand.
"I wish to give evidence," she said aloud.
The doctor turned toward the Coroner.
"I think you will agree with me, sir, that as Miss Puttenham has made the effort, she should give her evidence as soon as possible, and should give it sitting."
A murmur of assent ran round the table. Over the weather-beaten
Westmoreland faces had passed a sudden wave of animation.
Alice took her seat, and the oath. Meynell sitting opposite to her covered his face with his hands. He foresaw what she was about to do, and his heart went out to her.
Everybody at the table bent forward to listen. The two shorthand writers lifted eager faces.
"May I make a statement?" The thin voice trembled through the room.