I meant. Oh, I am sure, if
I had thought of this, I would rather have done anything than say it.
And whatever Sophia might have imagined, I assure you, gentlemen, _I_
never, never for a moment thought Mr Wentworth meant any harm."

"Never mind Mr Wentworth," said Mr Brown, who now took the matter in
hand. "When you were passing Mrs Hadwin's house about nine o'clock on
the evening of the 15th, you saw some one standing at the door. Mr
Wentworth particularly wishes you to say who it was."

"Oh, Mr Brown--oh, Mr Morgan," cried the poor lady; "it was little
Rosa Elsworthy. She was a designing little artful thing. When she was
in my Sunday class, she was always thinking of her vanities. Mr
Wentworth was talking to her at the garden-door. I daresay he was
giving her good advice; and oh, gentlemen, if you were to question me
for ever and ever, that is all I have got to say."

"Did you not hear what they were talking about?" said Mr Proctor. "If it
was good advice--" The late Rector stopped short, and grew red, and felt
that his supposition was that of a simpleton. "You heard what they were
talking about? What did they say?" he concluded, peremptorily, in a tone
which frightened the reluctant witness more and more.

"I did not hear a single word," she cried--"not a word. That is all I
know about it. Oh, please, let me go away. I feel very faint. I should
like a little cold water, please. I did not hear a word--not a word. I
have told you everything I have got to say."

Everybody looked more serious when Miss Hemmings stumbled from her
chair. She was so frightened at her own testimony, and so unwilling to
give it, that its importance was doubled in the eyes of the
inexperienced judges. The Squire gave a low groan under his breath,
and turned his eyes, which had been fixed upon her, on the ground
instead; but raised them immediately, with a gleam of anxiety as his
son again rose from his side. All that the Curate meant to do was to
give the trembling lady his arm, and lead her out; but the entire
assembly, with the exception of John Brown, started and stared as if
he had been about to take instant revenge upon the frightened woman.
Miss Hemmings burst into tears when Mr Wentworth set a chair for her
by the door, and brought her a glass of water, in the outer room; and
just then somebody knocked and gave him a note, with which he returned
to the presence of the awful tribunal. Miss Sophia Hemmings was
corroborating her siste