them advanced; and
notwithstanding their innocence, when the Donagh was presented and the
figure of Christ and the Twelve Apostles displayed in the solemn tracery
of its carving, they exhibited symptoms of fear. With trembling hands
they touched the Donagh, and with trembling lips kissed the crucifix,
in attestation of their guiltlessness of the charge with which they had
been accused.

"Anthony and Denis Meehan, come forward," said the curate, "and declare
your innocence of the crimes with which you are charged by the Cassidys
and others."

Anthony advanced; but Denis stood rooted to the ground; on perceiving
which, the former sternly returned a step or two, and catching him by
the arm with an admonitory grip, that could not easily be misunderstood,
compelled him to proceed with himself step by step to the table. Denis,
however, could feel the strong man tremble and perceive that although
he strove to lash himself into the energy of despair, and the utter
disbelief of all religious sanction, yet the trial before him called
every slumbering prejudice and apprehension of his mind into active
power. This was a death-blow to his own resolution, or, rather it
confirmed him in his previous determination not to swear on the Donagh,
except to acknowledge his guilt, which he could scarcely prevent himself
from doing, such was the vacillating state of mind to winch he felt
himself reduced.

When Anthony reached the table, his huge form seemed to dilate by his
effort at maintaining the firmness necessary to support him in this
awful struggle between conscience and superstition on the one hand, and
guilt, habit, and infidelity on the other. He fixed his deep,
dilated eyes upon the Donagh, in a manner that betokened somewhat
of irresolution: his countenance fell; his color came and went, but
eventually settled in a flushed red; his powerful hands and arms
trembled so much, that he folded them to prevent his agitation from
being noticed; the grimness of his face ceased to be stern, while it
retained the blank expression of guilt; his temples swelled out with the
terrible play of their blood-vessels, his chest, too, heaved up and
down with the united pressure of guilt, and the tempest which shook him
within. At length he saw Denis's eye upon him, and his passions took a
new direction; he knit his brows at him with more than usual fierceness,
ground his teeth, and with a step and action of suppressed fury, he
placed his foot at t