ence not
adduced at the trial. Well; you must go up and see the judge, since you
don't choose to impart it to any one, and lay it before him. He will
doubtless compare it with his notes of the trial, and see how far it
agrees with them. Of course you must be prepared with some kind of
proof; for Judge Corbet will have to test your evidence."

"It seems strange to think of him as the judge," said Ellinor, almost to
herself.

"Why, yes. He's but a young judge. You knew him at Hamley, I suppose? I
remember his reading there with Mr. Ness."

"Yes, but do not let us talk more about that time. Tell me when can I
see Dixon? I have been to the castle already, but they said I must have
a sheriff's order."

"To be sure. I desired Mrs. Johnson to tell you so last night. Old
Ormerod was dining here; he is clerk to the magistrates, and I told him
of your wish. He said he would see Sir Henry Croper, and have the order
here before ten. But all this time Mrs. Johnson is waiting breakfast for
us. Let me take you into the dining-room."

It was very hard work for Ellinor to do her duty as a guest, and to allow
herself to be interested and talked to on local affairs by her host and
hostess. But she felt as if she had spoken shortly and abruptly to Mr.
Johnson in their previous conversation, and that she must try and make
amends for it; so she attended to all the details about the restoration
of the church, and the difficulty of getting a good music-master for the
three little Miss Johnsons, with all her usual gentle good breeding and
patience, though no one can tell how her heart and imagination were full
of the coming interview with poor old Dixon.

By-and-by Mr. Johnson was called out of the room to see Mr. Ormerod, and
receive the order of admission from him. Ellinor clasped her hands tight
together as she listened with apparent composure to Mrs Johnson's never-
ending praise of the Hullah system. But when Mr. Johnson returned, she
could not help interrupting her eulogy, and saying--

"Then I may go now?"

Yes, the order was there--she might go, and Mr. Johnson would accompany
her, to see that she met with no difficulty or obstacle.

As they walked thither, he told her that some one--a turnkey, or some
one--would have to be present at the interview; that such was always the
rule in the case of condemned prisoners; but that if this third person
was "obliging," he would keep out of earshot. Mr. Johnson quietly t