ice
repeated to himself, "Mary, Mary," but memory would not help him
further. She soothed him, however, much as if he had been some wretched
sick child, and after a time persuaded him to lie down on his bed,
where, almost immediately, he fell asleep.

So they left him, and in going out, heard from the jailer that he often
slept thus for hours together--rarely eating, and asking only for water
and air.

One thing had been effected by their visit. From the moment when the
prisoner, powerless henceforward to hurt or terrify her, was supported
by his wife's arms, and soothed by her voice, she began to believe,
completely and for ever, in his innocence of the crime of which he was
accused, and to be ready to fight his battle with all her energy and all
her resources. Only the recollection of Lucia prevented her from
instantly avowing the relationship so long concealed; and in the first
warmth of a generous reaction, she almost regretted that she had not
sent her child away, even to England, that she might now be free to
devote herself to Christian. On their return to the Cottage they found
Lucia watching with feverish anxiety for their coming and their news;
but it was not until mother and daughter were shut up together in Mrs.
Costello's room that all could be told. Nor even then; for the wife's
heart had been too deeply touched; and not even her child could see into
its troubled tender depths. But, nevertheless, Lucia caught from her
mother the blessed certainty that, though man's justice might not clear
the prisoner of murder, heaven's did; and they rejoiced together over
this poor comfort, as if all the rest of their burden were easy to bear.

Afterwards a council was held as to what could be done for Christian's
defence. All legal help possible must be obtained, they decided, at any
risk; but to the two women this did not seem enough. One of them, at
least, would have liked to try any scheme, however difficult or absurd,
for fixing the guilt upon the true criminal, and so saving the false
one; but so far from that, they must not even suffer their agitation and
keen interest to be noticed; the very lawyers must be engaged with
caution or bound to secrecy. As long as their secret _could_ be kept, it
must. And Mr. Strafford could not remain at Cacouna. He had come
promptly to the help of the one unfortunate member of his flock, but the
little community on the island always felt his absence grievously, and
three or four