Page:Cartoon portraits and biographical sketches of men of the day.djvu/110

'Are you now engaged to the plaintiff?' She looked timidly round, and saw Alfred, and hesitated. The serjeant pressed her politely, but firmly. 'Must I reply to that?' she said piteously. 'If you please.' 'Then, no. Another misfortune has now separated him and me for ever.' 'What is that, pray?' 'My father is said to have died at sea; and my mother thinks he is to blame.' The Judge to Saunders. What on earth has this to do with Hardie against Hardie? Saunders. You are warmly interested in the plaintiff's success? Julia. O yes, sir. (Colt, aside to Garrow. The fool is putting his foot into it: there's not a jury in England that would give a verdict to part two interesting young lovers.) Saunders. You are attached to him? Julia. Ah, that I do! This burst, intended for poor Alfred, not the court, baffled cross-examination and grammar and everything else. Saunders was wise and generous, and said no more. Colt cast a glance of triumph, and declined to reëxamine. He always let well alone. The Judge, however, evinced a desire to trace the fourteen thousand pounds from Calcutta; but Julia could not help him: that mysterious sum had been announced by letter as about to sail; and then no more was heard about it till Alfred accused his father of having it. All endeavours to fill this hiatus failed. However Julia, observing that in courts material objects affect the mind most, had provided herself with all the pièces de conviction she could find, and she produced her father's empty pocket-book, and said, when he was brought home senseless, this was in his breast-pocket. 'Hand it up to me,' said the Judge. He examined it, and said it had been in the water. 'Captain Dodd was wrecked off the French coast,' suggested Mr. Saunders. 'My learned friend had better go into the witness-box, if he means to give evidence,' said Mr. Colt. 'You are very much afraid of a very little truth,' retorted Saunders.

Felix Holt well. On the day of the election at Treby, when I had been much alarmed by the noises that reached me from the main street, Felix Holt came to call upon me. He knew that my father was away, and he thought that I should be alarmed by the sounds of disturbance. It was about the middle of the day, and he came to tell me that the disturbance was quieted, and that the streets were nearly emptied. But he said he feared that the men would collect again after drinking, and that something worse might happen later in the day. And he was in much sadness at this thought. He stayed a little while, and then he left me. He was very melancholy. His mind was full of great resolutions, that came from his kind feeling towards others. It was the last thing he would have done to join in riot or to hurt any man, if he could have helped it. His nature is very noble: he is tender-hearted; he could never have had any intention that was not brave and good.' There was something so naive and beautiful in this action of Esther's, that it conquered every low or petty suggestion even in the commonest minds.