of of the shortness of time that had elapsed between her
leaving Eleanor's and the accident.

"A particularly serious responsibility rests upon you, gentlemen, in
this case. The counsel for the defense seems to assume that the rich
fare less well in our courts of law than the poor. That has not been my
experience. I should be glad as a believer in democracy if I could
believe that justice is more available to the poor than to the rich, but
I cannot. Last month in this very court a boy, younger than the
defendant, who earned his living as a driver of a delivery wagon, was
sentenced to three years in prison for a lesser crime, and on evidence
not one-tenth as convincing as the evidence now before you. A great many
of us felt sorry for that boy, too, but we felt that essential justice
was done. If through sentiment or pity essential justice cannot be done
in this case, if sex, wealth or conspicuous position is a guarantee of
immunity, a blow will be dealt to the respect for law in this country
for which you gentlemen must take the responsibility. If you find by the
evidence that the defendant has committed the crime for which she is
indicted I ask you to face that fact with courage and honesty, and to
bring in a verdict of guilty."

There was a gentle stir in the court. The attendant announced that
anyone who wished to leave the court must do so immediately. No one
would be allowed to move while the judge was charging. No one moved. The
doors were closed, the attendants leaning against them.

Wiley bent over and whispered, "That sort of class appeal doesn't
succeed nowadays. Give yourself no concern."

Concern was the last emotion Lydia felt, or rather she felt no emotion
at all. Her interest had suddenly collapsed, the game was over. She was
aware that the air of the court room was close and that she felt
inexpressibly tired, especially in her wrists.

The judge wheeled toward the jury and drew in his chin until it seemed
to rest upon his spinal column.

"Gentlemen of the jury," he said, "we have now reached that stage in
this trial when it is my duty to present the matter for your
deliberation. You know that the law makes a distinction between the duty
of the court and the duty of the jury. You are the judge and the only
judge of the facts, but you must accept the law from the court. You must
not consider whether or not you approve of the law; whether you could or
could not make a better law."

Lydia suppressed a