"Well, I should think murder was murder, however it was done!... And as to circumstances, you know Mrs. Barclay was a good woman, a member of your church, you know what a hard time she had, especially after he came home, and now her children are left worse than orphans—I don't see how you can say that 'circumstances' make any difference!"
She stood straight, her eyes flashing reproach at him.
"Why, Mary, do you want the man hanged?"
"Well, if anybody is hanged, he ought to be! So long as we have laws to punish criminals—"
"You stand up for the woman always, Mary," said Hilary, smiling faintly.
"And you—you and Laurence—it seems to me very queer that you two should be standing up for that man! Yesterday—risking your life for him—now I think it's very strange."
"That wasn't so much for him," said Hilary slowly. "It was to prevent another murder, that's all—to keep them from doing what he'd done."
He shut his eyes wearily, and Mary softened.
"I oughtn't to talk to you about it now. You must be quiet. I'll go now, and you must promise me to go to bed and not get up till the fever's gone. Will you?"