ch she bore the stare of the crowd, sent a wave of
sympathy through all present, and stirred pity in every heart. When
Mehetabel had recovered the confusion and alarm into which she was
thrown by finding herself in the dock with heads all about her, eyes
fixed upon her, and mouths whispering comments, she timidly looked
up and around.

She saw the judge in his robes under the Royal arms, the barristers,
in gowns and wigs, she looked in the direction of the jury,
and with a start recognized one amongst them. By a strange chance
Iver Verstage had been chosen as one of the petty jury, and the
prosecution not suspecting that he was in any way mixed up in the
matter before the court, not knowing that he was acquainted with
the prisoner, that he came from the neighborhood of the scene of
the murder, suffered him to pass unchallenged. Iver did not turn
his face her way, and avoided meeting her eye.

Then she saw Joe Filmer's honest countenance; he sought what Iver
avoided, and greeted her with a smile and a nod.

There was one more present whom Mehetabel recognized, and that in
spite of his wig. She saw in the barrister who was to act as
counsel in the prosecution that same young man who had insulted
her on the dam of the Hammer Pond.

There was little fresh evidence produced beyond that elicited
before the magistrates. Almost the only new matter was what was
drawn from the two Rocliffes relative to the conversation that
had passed between the prisoner and the deceased previous to his
death. But neither father nor son could give a clear account, and
they contradicted each other and themselves. But both were confident
as to Mehetabel having struck Jonas on the head.

The counsel for the defence was able to make a point here. According
to their account they were in a lane, the level of which was
considerably lower than that of the field in which the altercation
took place. There was a hedge of holly intervening. Now holly does
not lose its leaves in winter. Holly does not grow in straggling
fashion, but densely. How were these two men able to see through
so close a screen? Moreover, if they could see the prisoner then
it was obvious she could see them, and was it likely that she would
strike her husband before their eyes. Neither Samuel nor Thomas
Rocliffe was able to explain how he saw through a hedge of holly,
but he had no hesitation in saying that see he did. They were both
looking and had chosen a spot where a view w