And then Ada went on to relate what passed, a great deal of which I had gathered from Mrs. Leslie.
"There is one thing," she concluded, "which I did not and would not believe. He says you have volunteered to give evidence against him," (it seemed as if she could not bring herself to mention Hugh by name;) "but I said it could not be,--that there must have been a mistake. What is the worst of all is, that since Lister was here, mamma persists in saying he is guilty; somehow, though his words defended, his tone and manner implied he thought his cousin guilty."
"Ada, it is true I shall have to give evidence which may help to criminate Hugh; but it is more than equally false that I ever volunteered to bear [{461}] witness against him. You were right; never believe it. "
Then I told her how it was, and how I had shrunk from letting her know it before.
"And now, my child, I must go. You know the inquest is to take place this afternoon, and I have to be there; but first I must return to Merrivale's, and settle many things with him."
"You will come back to me afterward."
"Surely; as soon as it is over."
"Do you think he will be present?"
"I trust not, oh! I trust not! But perhaps he will wish to watch the proceedings himself, as well as Merrivale. God be with you, Ada, and good-bye!"
I was on the threshold of the door when she called me back.