Out of her sphere - University Library

144 OUT OF HER SPHERE.
Three men now presented themselves to
be sworn as witnesses. They thought they
had something to tell of Mrs. Thornton.
One was the shrimper who had seen her
enter the Fort on that eventful afternoon,
and Mr. Audley Dale leave it. His testi-
mony as to the evident perturbation of Mr.
Dale, which at this little distance of time
he made the most of, was, every one
present thought, conclusive. If he had
found the poor lady lying murdered then,
would it not have been more natural for
him to have given the alarm, and sent justice
at once after her murderers, than to have
hurried from the spot, as if hastening from
the sight of the victim he had destroyed ?
When the shrimper spoke of the " bit o'
lace " that he had seen in Mr. Dale s hand
** looking like a thing ladies wear," there was
a thrill through the Court. Clare was asked
if her mistress did wear anything of the kind,
and answered in the affirmative. She had on