ore. It must have
been only my fancy that saw something wistful in it; but I hated to go.
I felt as if I were leaving him alone in the hands of his enemies. It
seemed impossible for me to remember that of all those enemies he had I
was the very worst.

CHAPTER V

THE SECOND DAY IN COURT

As father and I crossed the lower hall, "Do you believe all these
stories about the Spanish Woman are true?" I asked.

He looked at me quickly. "What stories?"

"Why, I heard them talking in court to-day; and last night,--I didn't
mean to,--I overheard you and Mr. Dingley as you came out of the study."

Father looked grim. "It is with those stories they will try to convict
him." He took a few more strides before he added, "If they can prove
that Montgomery wanted to cut out Rood they'll have a bad case against
him." He didn't speak again until he put me in the carriage. Then he
said, "I hope that you will get this matter out of your mind. I hate
to have you think about it."

I said I would try. Indeed, after that last remark of father's about
Montgomery wanting to cut out Rood it seemed to me that, if I didn't
quickly get something else into my mind, I should go crazy. So while
the carriage bounded over the cobblestones, I was busy planning--the
menu for dinner to-morrow, where to leave my ear-rings to be mended,
how to do over my blue silk gown, and where had been the error in the
butcher's bill. My thoughts rushed from one little thing to another,
afraid for an instant to let go.

Upon arriving home, Abby hanging over the banisters, wanted to hear
about the court proceedings; but I called out to her that my testimony
hadn't been required--and would she please get out the apricots, and
after luncheon I would make that sauce she had been after me to do for
the last week.

She seemed astonished, but gratified, at my unwonted energy. I had
been an absolutely useless creature about the house for so long. Now I
hurried through luncheon, and attacked the apricots as if my life were
staked on getting them halved, stoned, and boiling.

"Good Heavens, child, how you rush!" Abby protested. "There's no such
great haste." But she did not know that I was trying to run away from
an idea.

In the intervals of preserving I dived into the cellar and brought up
my rose and lilac plants; and the afternoon was spent in running
hot-cheeked from the stove to the garden, digging, carefully
sprinkling, while Abby lowered th