d let the barrister know what was what
when he came to knock me about." Kenneby wished it also, with all his
heart.

Mr. Mason went down by the same train, but he travelled by the first
class. Dockwrath, who was now holding his head up, would have gone
with him, had he not thought it better to remain with Kenneby. "He
might jump out of the carriage and destroy himself," he said to Mr.
Mason.

"If he had any of the feelings of an Englishman within his breast,"
said Mason, "he would be anxious to give assistance towards the
punishment of such a criminal as that."

"He has only the feelings of a tomtit," said Dockwrath.

Lodgings had been taken for the two chief witnesses together, and
Moulder and Dockwrath shared the accommodation with them. As they sat
down to tea together, these two gentlemen doubtless felt that Bridget
Bolster was not exactly fitting company for them. But the necessities
of an assize week, and of such a trial as this, level much of these
distinctions, and they were both prepared to condescend and become
affable.

"Well, Mrs. Bolster, and how do you find yourself?" asked Dockwrath.

Bridget was a solid, square-looking woman, somewhat given to flesh,
and now not very quick in her movements. But the nature of her past
life had given to her a certain amount of readiness, and an absence
of that dread of her fellow-creatures, which so terribly afflicted
poor Kenneby. And then also she was naturally not a stupid woman, or
one inclined to be muddle-headed. Perhaps it would be too much to say
that she was generally intelligent, but what she did understand, she
understood thoroughly.

"Pretty well, I thank you, Mr. Dockwrath. I sha'n't be sorry to have
a bit of something to my tea."

Bridget Bolster perfectly understood that she was to be well fed
when thus brought out for work in her country's service. To have
everything that she wanted to eat and drink at places of public
entertainment, and then to have the bills paid for her behind her
back, was to Bridget Bolster the summit of transitory human bliss.

"And you shall have something to your tea," said Dockwrath. "What's
it to be?"

"A steak's as good as anything at these places," suggested Moulder.

"Or some ham and eggs," suggested Dockwrath.

"Kidneys is nice," said Bridget.

"What do you say, Kenneby?" asked Dockwrath.

"It is nothing to me," said Kenneby; "I have no appetite. I think
I'll take a little brandy-and-water."

Mr. Moulder p