Would it refresh your memory, Miss Thorne, to look at this bracelet
which I hold in my hand?"

"I protest, Your Honor!" shouted Wiley, but a second too late. Lydia had
seen the bracelet and shrunk from it--with a quick gesture of
repugnance.

[Illustration: LYDIA HAD SEEN THE BRACELET AND SHRUNK FROM IT.]

The line of inquiry was not permitted, the bracelet was not put in
evidence, the question was ordered stricken from the records; but the
total effect of her testimony was to leave in the minds of the jurors
the impression that she was perfectly capable of the conduct which the
prosecution attributed to her. Wiley detained her a few moments for
redirect examination in the hope of regaining the dove, but in vain.

Miss Bennett was put on the stand to testify to Lydia's habitual
prudence as a driver; Governor Albee testified to her excellent record;
half a dozen other friends were persuasive, but could not undo the harm
she had done her own case.

The district attorney put the telephone-company records in evidence,
showing that only one call had been made to the Bellington house between
two and three o'clock March eleventh, and that it had been made at
thirteen minutes before three.

CHAPTER XI

Lydia, with the wisdom that comes specially to the courageous, knew that
her trial had gone against her as she left the stand. Miss Bennett was
hopeful as they drove home. Bobby actually congratulated her on the
clearness and weight of what she had said.

Albee, whose own investigation had closed brilliantly the day before,
came that evening to say good-by to her. He was called back to his
native state on business and was leaving on a midnight train.

Since the accident Lydia had been seeing Albee every day--had used him
and consulted him, and yet had almost forgotten his existence. Now as
she waited for his appearance it came to her with a shock of surprise
that she had once come very near to engaging herself to him; that in
parting like this for a few weeks he might make the assumption that she
intended to be his wife. She thought she could make her trial a good
excuse for refusing to consider such a proposal. That would get rid of
him without hurting his feelings. She thought of the phrase, "A woman
situated as I am cannot enter into an engagement." The mere idea of such
a marriage was now intensely repugnant to her. How could she have
contemplated it?

He entered, leonine yet neat in his double-breasted bl