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288 BLACK SHEEP.the story about to be told yvould soon enlightenhim. Did he really think she had done so? Didhe really believe it for one minute ? No. Hehad tried, in the blind fury of his rage, yvhen hefound himself trapped, balked, hopelessly in thepower of the law, and the game utterly up —when, in the loneliness of the night, he hadbrooded savagely over the hopes he had entertained,over the dazzling pictures his fancy hadpainted, then he had tried to accuse her, he hadhated and execrated her, ancl tried to accuse her.But in vain; he was not a fool, villain as he yvas,andhis common sense forbade the success of theattempt. Aid now, when he saw her, her fromwhom he had last parted with a cruel blow, and ayvordthat was more cruel,it was as though all hispast life looked out at him through her wofulblue eyes. Ayvfully it looked at him, and heldhim fascinated, even to a brief oblivion of thescene around him. She had raised her veil,notquite off her face, but so that he could see herdistinctly, and when he looked at her, her lipsparted, in a vain heroic attempt to smile. Butthey only quivered and closed again, and she
STRONG AS DEATH. 289Knew it, and drew the veil closely round her face,ancl sat thenceforth, her head falling forward uponher breast,her figure quite motionless.The ordinary business of the place and theoccasion went on, intensified in interest to thespectators by the presence of the murdered man'sfather, in the sensational character of a witness.Harriet's relation to the prisoner was not divinedby the public, and so she passedunnoticed.Jim Swain was, of course, the chief witness,and he told his story with clearness ancl directness,though he was evidently and deeply affectedby the sight of Harriet, yvhom his quick eyeinstantly recognised. She took no notice; shedid not change her position, or raise her veil asthe examination of the boy proceeded, as minuteby minute she heard and felt the last chance, thelast faint hope of escape, slip away, and theterrible certainty of doom become clearer andmore imminent. She heard and saw the boywhose story contained the destruction of hope ancllife, showed her the utter futility- of all the plansthey had concocted, of all the precautions theyhad taken;showed her that while they had fenceduVOL. III.
- Page 246 and 247: 238 BLACK SHEEP.care not; it might
- Page 248 and 249: 240 BLACK SHEEP.she said, with a su
- Page 250 and 251: 242 BLACK SHEEP.Ireton P. Bembridge
- Page 252 and 253: 244 BLACK SHEEP."That is my busines
- Page 254 and 255: 246 BLACK SHEEP.in which she was fo
- Page 256 and 257: CHAPTER XLAT THE TIDAL TRAIN." Ther
- Page 258 and 259: 250 BLACK SHEEP."to the general sen
- Page 260 and 261: 252 BLACK SHEEP.ladies whose carria
- Page 262 and 263: 254 BLACK SHEEP.with a beating hear
- Page 264 and 265: 256 BLACK SHEEP." It's quite true;n
- Page 266 and 267: 258 BLACK SHEEP.r'ous story as —
- Page 268 and 269: 260 BLACK SHEEP.Mr. James Lowther,
- Page 270 and 271: 262 BLACK SHEEP.the wizened mannish
- Page 272 and 273: 264 BLACK SHEEP.told it with circum
- Page 274 and 275: 266 BLACK SHEEP.street but him and
- Page 276 and 277: 268 BLACK SHEEP.knew the other gent
- Page 278 and 279: 270 BLACK SHEEP.said Mr. Lowther; "
- Page 280 and 281: 272 BLACK SHEEP." Ido. It was my so
- Page 282 and 283: 274 BLACK SHEEP." You will lie down
- Page 284 and 285: 276 BLACK SHEEP.as he's afraid to f
- Page 286 and 287: 278 BLACK SHEEP.keeping close to th
- Page 288 and 289: 280 BLACK SHEEP.the platform, and t
- Page 290 and 291: CHAPTER XII."STRONG AS DEATH."Unspe
- Page 292 and 293: 284 BLACK SHEEP.this was the night
- Page 294 and 295: 286 BLACK SHEEP.Tlie approaches to
- Page 298 and 299: 290 BLACK SHEEP.themselves from the
- Page 300 and 301: 292 BLACK SHEEP.Not Iris wife's,not
- Page 302 and 303: 294 BLACK SHEEP.mitted for trial. A
- Page 304 and 305: 296 BLACK SHEEP.voice,not inthe lea
- Page 306 and 307: 298 BLACK SHEEP.you might have know
- Page 308 and 309: 300 BLACK SHEEP.similar to that at
- Page 310 and 311: 302 BLACK SHEEP." Haul him out, anc
- Page 312 and 313: 304 BLACK SHEEP.conscious Mrs. Carr
- Page 314 and 315: 306 BLACK SHEEP.might rest, unquest
STRONG AS DEATH. 289Knew it, and drew the veil closely round her face,ancl sat thenceforth, her head falling forward uponher breast,her figure quite motionless.<strong>The</strong> ordinary business of the place and theoccasion went on, intensified in interest to thespectators by the presence of the murdered man'sfather, in the sensational character of a witness.Harriet's relation to the prisoner was not divinedby the public, and so she passedunnoticed.Jim Swain was, of course, the chief witness,and he told his story with clearness ancl directness,though he was evidently and deeply affectedby the sight of Harriet, yvhom his quick eyeinstantly recognised. She took no notice; shedid not change her position, or raise her veil asthe examination of the boy proceeded, as minuteby minute she heard and felt the last chance, thelast faint hope of escape, slip away, and theterrible certainty of doom become clearer andmore imminent. She heard and saw the boywhose story contained the destruction of hope ancllife, showed her the utter futility- of all the plansthey had concocted, of all the precautions theyhad taken;showed her that while they had fenceduVOL. III.
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