Joshua Scarff, in his coloured spectacles, was waiting at the door to the Deemster's room.
"I'm afraid your Honour is not well this morning," said Joshua.
"A little headache, that's all," said Stowell.
But he had stumbled on the threshold (a bad omen) and was wondering what would happen before he came out again.
CHAPTER THIRTY
THE VERDICT
When the Court resumed Gell rose, with a haggard face, to make an announcement.
In accordance with the suggestion of his Excellency, the accused had been seen during the adjournment (though not by him), with the result that she had confessed to having given birth to a child and being the cause of its death.
"In these circumstances," he said, speaking in a husky voice, "I have taken the only course open to me—that of advising her to revise her plea, and with the permission of the Court she will now do so."
There was a moment of agitation in which the Court was understood to assent, and then Bessie was called upon to plead again. But hardly had she risen at the call of the Deemster when she broke down utterly and sob followed sob at every question that was put to her. At length she bowed her head and that was accepted as her plea of guilty.