Out of her sphere - University Library

OUT OF HER SPHERE.
might have solaced themselves were de-
nied to them. They could take no com-
fort from the thought that Audley was
innocent—they had assumed that, too much
as a matter of course, to do so. They could
not derive much satisfaction from the belief
that even if convicted, the last penalty of
the law would not be enforced—they had
never imagined that it would be—that fate
was too wildly improbable for them to dream
of its befalling any one connected with them.
But there was the certainty of the disgrace,
the talk, the publicity ;
and the possibility
—just the possibility that a besotted jury
might bring in a verdict of guilty, and so
necessitate an application on the part of
Audley's relatives for a pardon which
would be an indelible stigma on them all
for life.
They were fairly bewildered. This thing
which had happened to them was so out of
the way of their ordinary experiences—with