s were clasped; the
slender, shapely figure was very straight. Her beautiful blue eyes, full
of varying lights, flashed, then became dimmed; a suspicion of mist
blurred the long, sweeping lashes. "He had a big, noble spark in his
soul. And I think of him many, many times!" she repeated, the sweet, gay
lips trembling sensitively. "Brave fellow! Brave fellow!" The words fell
in a whisper.

"Fortunate fellow, I should say, to be so remembered by you, Miss
Jocelyn!" interposed Captain Forsythe. "Eh, Ronsdale?"

"Fortunate, indeed!" the thin lips replied stiffly.

"Pity he should have been drowned though!" Captain Forsythe went on. "He
would, I am sure, have made a most interesting study in contrasts!"

She, however, seemed not to hear either compliment--or comment, but
stood for a moment as in a reverie. "I am almost sorry I was persuaded
to come here to-day," she said at length, thoughtfully. "I don't believe
I shall like courts, or," she added, "find them amusing!"

"Nonsense!" Sir Charles laughed. "I have heard his lordship has a pretty
sense of humor, and never fails, when opportunity offers, to indulge
it."

"Even when sentencing people?"

"Well; there is no need of turning the proceedings into a funeral."

"I don't believe I should laugh at his wit," said the girl. "And is this
Mr. John Steele witty, too?"

"Oh, no! Anything irrelevant from any one else wouldn't be allowed by
his lordship."

Here Ronsdale lifted his hat. "May happen back this way," he observed.
"That is," looking at Jocelyn Wray, "if you don't object?"

"I? Not at all! Of course, it would bore you--a trial! You are so easily
bored. Is it the club?"

"No; another engagement. Thank you so much for permission to return for
you--very kind. Hope you will find it amusing. Good morning!" And Lord
Ronsdale vanished down the narrow way.

The others of the party entered the court room and were shown to the
seats that Captain Forsythe had taken particular pains to reserve for
them. The case, evidently an interesting one to judge from the number of
people present, was in progress as they quietly settled down in their
chairs at the back. From the vantage point of a slight eminence they
found themselves afforded an excellent and unimpaired view of his
lordship, the jury, prisoner, witness and barristers. Presumably the
case had reached an acute stage, for even the judge appeared slightly
mindful of what was going on, and allowed his glance to stray