for Kenneby would speak in
a voice so low that nobody could hear him; and on the second occasion
of the judge enjoining him to speak out, he nearly fainted. It is odd
that it never occurs to judges that a witness who is naturally timid
will be made more so by being scolded. When I hear a judge thus use
his authority, I always wish that I had the power of forcing him to
some very uncongenial employment,--jumping in a sack, let us say; and
then when he jumped poorly, as he certainly would, I would crack my
whip and bid him go higher and higher. The more I so bade him, the
more he would limp; and the world looking on, would pity him and
execrate me. It is much the same thing when a witness is sternly told
to speak louder.

But John Kenneby at last told his plain story. He remembered the day
on which he had met old Usbech and Bridget Bolster and Lady Mason
in Sir Joseph's chamber. He had then witnessed a signature by Sir
Joseph, and had only witnessed one on that day;--of that he was
perfectly certain. He did not think that old Usbech had signed the
deed in question, but on that matter he declined to swear positively.
He remembered the former trial. He had not then been able to swear
positively whether Usbech had or had not signed the deed. As far as
he could remember, that was the point to which his cross-examination
on that occasion had chiefly been directed. So much John Kenneby did
at last say in language that was sufficiently plain.

And then Mr. Furnival arose. The reader is acquainted with the state
of his mind on the subject of this trial. The enthusiasm on behalf of
Lady Mason, which had been aroused by his belief in her innocence, by
his old friendship, by his ancient adherence to her cause, and by his
admiration for her beauty, had now greatly faded. It had faded much
when he found himself obliged to call in such fellow-labourers as
Chaffanbrass and Aram, and had all but perished when he learned from
contact with them to regard her guilt as certain. But, nevertheless,
now that he was there, the old fire returned to him. He had wished
twenty times that he had been able to shake the matter from him and
leave his old client in the hands of her new advisers. It would be
better for her, he had said to himself. But on this day--on these
three days--seeing that he had not shaken the matter off, he rose to
his work as though he still loved her, as though all his mind was
still intent on preserving that ill-gotten inher