her feet in a brook had terrified her--never could she have encountered the roar of waves sufficient to overwhelm and destroy her." Such were the observations of Sir Boyvill; and though Gerard, by his simple assertion that he believed Falkner's tale, somewhat staggered the solicitor, yet he could not banish his notion that a trial was the inevitable and best mode of bringing the truth to light. The jury were now met, and Sir Boyvill gave such a turn to his evidence as at once impressed them unfavourably towards the accused. In melancholy procession they visited poor Alithea's grave. A crowd of country people were collected about it--they did not dare touch the cloak, but gazed on it with curiosity and grief. Many remembered Mrs. Neville, and their rude exclamations showed how deeply they felt her injuries. "When I was ill," said an old woman, "she gave me medicine with her own hand." "When my son James was lost at sea," said another, "she came to comfort me, and brought young Master Gerard--and cried, bless her! When she saw me take on--rich and grand as she was, she cried for poor James--and that she should be there now!" "My dear mistress," cried another, "never did she speak a harsh word to me--but for her, I could not have married--if she had lived, I had never known sorrow!" Execrations against the murderer followed these laments. The arrival of the jury caused a universal murmur--the crowd was driven back--the cloak lifted from the grave--the men looked in; the scull, bound by her long hair--hair whose colour and luxuriance many remembered--attracted peculiar observation; the women, as they saw it, wept aloud--fragments of her dress were examined, which yet retained a sort of identity, as silk or muslin--though stained and colourless. As farther proof, among the bones were found a few ornaments--among them, on the skeleton hand, was her wedding-ring, with two others--both of which were sworn to by Sir Boyvill as belonging to his wife. No doubt could exist concerning the identity of the remains; it was sacrilege to gaze on them a moment longer than was necessary--while each beholder, as they contemplated so much beauty and excellence reduced to a small heap of bones, abhorrent to the eye, imbibed a heartfelt lesson on the nothingness of life. Stout-hearted men wept--and each bosom glowed with hatred against her destroyer. After a few moments the cloak was again extended--the crowd pressed nearer--the jury retired, and returned to Ravenglass. Neville's evidence was only necessary to prove the name and residence of the assassin--there was no hesitation about the verdict. That of wilful murder against Falkner was unhesitatingly pronounced--a warrant issued for his apprehension, and proper officers despatched to execute it.