"Speak up, Miss Trevethick," said the counsel, encouragingly; "these twelve gentlemen are all very anxious to hear what you have to say." The judge nodded and smiled, as though in corroboration, as well as to add, upon his own account, that it would give _him_ also much pleasure to hear her. "Was the prisoner staying in the inn as an ordinary guest, or did he mix with the family?" "He was in the bar parlor most nights, Sir, along with father and me and Solomon." "He was in the bar parlor most nights," repeated Mr. Balais, significantly, for he was anxious that the jury should catch that answer--"'With father and me and Solomon.' And who introduced him into the parlor?" "Father brought him first, Sir, on the second day after he came to Gethin." "Father brought him in, did he? Now, that is rather an unusual thing for the landlord of an inn to do, is it not? To introduce a young man whom he had known but twenty-four hours to his family circle, and to the society of his daughter, eh?" "Please, Sir, I don't know, Sir." "No, of course you don't, Miss Trevethick; how should you? But I think the jury know. You have no idea, then, yourself, why your father introduced this young gentleman to you so early?" "Father said he was a friend of Mr. Carew's, of Crompton, who is father's landlord." "Just so," said Mr. Balais, with another significant glance at the attentive twelve. "Mr. Trevethick had already discovered that this youth was of a good social position, and likely to prove an excellent match. 'Will you walk into my parlor?' said the spider to the fly; 'I have the prettiest daughter that ever you did spy.'" Every body tittered at this except Mr. Smoothbore and his solicitor; even the judge blew his nose. "Now, not only did the prisoner at the bar spend most nights in the bar parlor, but, as I am given to understand, he spent most days there, or, at all events, in your society, did he not?" "Father and Solomon were away most days, Sir, and so we were left a good deal together." "Just so. Your father took care to be away most days, did he, in order that you should be left a good deal together?" Mr. Smoothbore started to his feet. "My lud, I submit," etc.; meaning that this was a mode of interrogating the witness that he could _not_ submit to for an instant. "Very good," said Mr. Balais, smiling. "I will not put the question in that form, then. The form is of very little consequence. You were left together, however, and the consequence was that you two young people fell in love with one another, eh?" Harry was crimson. "I--he--we;" and there she stuck. "I am very sorry to embarrass you, my dear young lady, but I am necessitated to press this question. Did you fall in love with one another or not?" No answer. Harry was thinking of Solomon, to whom she was to be married within ten days, and hung her head.