isolation of her lot; but for one thing
she was not prepared, and its unexpectedness threatened to shiver her
calmness. Two women made their way toward her: Dyce and Sister Serena.
The former sat down in the rear of the prisoner, the latter stood for a
few seconds, and her thin delicate hand fell upon the girl's shoulder.
At sight of the sweet, placid countenance below the floating white
muslin veil, Beryl's lips quivered into a sad smile; and as they shook
hands she whispered:

"I believe even the gallows will not frighten you two from my side."

Sister Serena seated herself as close as possible, drew from her pocket
a gray woollen stocking, and began to knit. For an instant Beryl's eyes
closed, to shut in the sudden gush of grateful tears; when she opened
them, Mr. Churchill had risen:

"May it please the Court, Gentlemen of the Jury: If fidelity to duty
involved no sacrifice of personal feeling, should we make it the
touchstone of human character, value it as the most precious jewel in
the crown of human virtues? I were less than a man, immeasurably less
than a gentleman, were I capable of addressing you to-day, in obedience
to the behests of justice, and in fulfilment of the stern requirements
of my official position, without emotions of profound regret, that
implacable Duty, to whom I have sworn allegiance, forces me to hush the
pleading whispers of my pitying heart, to smother the tender instincts
of human sympathy, and to listen only to the solemn mandate of those
laws, which alone can secure to our race the enjoyment of life, liberty
and property. An extended professional career has hitherto furnished me
no parallel for the peculiarly painful exigencies of this occasion; and
an awful responsibility scourges me with scorpion lash to a most
unwelcome task. When man crosses swords with man on any arena, innate
pride nerves his arm and kindles enthusiasm, but alas, for the man! be
he worthy the name, who draws his blade and sees before him a young,
helpless, beautiful woman, disarmed. Were it not a bailable offence in
the court of honor, if his arm fell palsied? Each of you who has a
mother, a wife, a lily browed daughter, put yourself in my place, lend
me your sympathy; and at least applaud the loyalty that strangles all
individuality, and renders me bound thrall of official duty. Counsel
for the defence has been repeatedly offered, nay, pressed upon the
prisoner, but as often persistently rejected; hence the al