"I've seen something of the ladies in my time, Mr. Stowell, sir, but I really think .... yes, sir I really do think...." and then rapturous praises of Fenella. They rang like joy-bells in Stowell's ear but struck like minute-bells also.
When he closed the street door to his chambers he found a large envelope in the letter-box behind it. Bessie's photograph! As he held it under the gas globe in his cold room the pictured face gave him a shock. Beautiful? Yes, but there was something common in its beauty which he had never observed before.
His first impulse was to hide the photograph out of sight. But at the next moment he tore open the cedar-wood frame on the mantelpiece, removed the portrait it contained, inserted Bessie's in its place, and then put it to stand on the table by the side of his bed.
"There! That shall be the last face I see at night and the first I see in the morning!"
But oh vain and foolish thought! With the first sleep of the night another face was in his dream.
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE DEATH OF THE DEEMSTER
The Deemster had not intended to sit at the next Court of General Gaol Delivery, and had already arranged for the second Deemster to take his place, but when, next morning at breakfast, he heard from Fenella that Victor was to plead, he determined to preside.
"I must hear Victor's first case at the General Gaol," he said.
"We shall have to be careful, then," said Dr. Clucas. "No excitement, your Honour! No more heart-strain!"