Mildred Arkell: A Novel. Vol. 3 (of 3)Wood, Henry, Mrs.
General
Mildred Arkell: A Novel. Vol. 3 (of 3)
Wood, Henry, Mrs.
Fiction
"There is no charge to be brought against Mynn and Mynn in connexion
with it, is there?" again interposed the judge.
"Most certainly not, my lord," replied the counsel, in a lofty tone,
meant to impress the public ear.
"Then, Brother Siftem, it appears to me that you need not take up the
time of the court to enter on their defence."
"I bow to your lordship's opinion. Mynn and Mynn and their client,
Squire Carr, are not less indignant that so rascally a trick should have
been perpetrated than the public must be. But this evidence, which has
come upon them in so overwhelming a manner, they feel they cannot hope
to confute. I am therefore instructed to inform your lordship and the
jury, that they withdraw from the suit, and permit a verdict to be
entered for the other side."
"Very good," replied the judge.
And thus, after certain technicalities had been observed, the
proceedings were concluded, and the court began to empty itself of its
spectators. For once the RIGHT had prospered. But Westerbury held its
breath with awe when it came to reflect that it was the revengeful act
of Roland Carr Lewis, that locking up in the church, which had caused
his family to be despoiled of the inheritance they had taken to
themselves!
The Reverend Mr. Wilberforce laid hold of Henry Arkell, as he was
leaving the Guildhall. "Tell me," said he, but not in an angry tone,
"how much more that is incomprehensible are you keeping secret, allowing
it to come out to me piecemeal?"
Henry smiled. "I don't think there is any more, sir."
"Yes, there is. It is incomprehensible why you should not have disclosed
at the time all you had been a witness to in the church. Why did you
not?"
"I could not speak without compromising George Prattleton, sir; and if I
had, he might have been brought to trial for it."
"Serve him right too," said Mr. Wilberforce.
Presently Henry met the dean, his daughter, Frederick St. John, and Lady
Anne. The dean stopped him.
"What do you call yourself? A lion?"
Henry smiled faintly.
"I think you stand a fair chance of being promoted into one. Do you know
what I wished to-day, when you were giving your evidence?"
"No, sir."
"That you were my own son."
Henry involuntarily glanced at Georgina, and she glanced at him: her
face retained its calmness, but a flush of crimson came over his. No one
observed them but Mr. St. John.
"I want you at the deanery to-night," continued the dean, releasing
Henry. "No excuse about lessons now: your fall on Sunday has given you
holiday. You will come?"
"Yes, sir."
"I mean to dinner--seven o'clock. The judges will be there. The one who
tried the cause said he should like to meet you. Go and rest yourself
until then."
"Thank you, sir. I will come."
Georgina's eyes sparkled, and she nodded to him in triumph a dozen
times, as she walked on with the dean.
Following in the wake of the dean's party came the Rev. Mr. Prattleton.
Henry approached him timidly.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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