Paul heard it and laughed. “It’s quite an ovation, isn’t it,” he said to his mother, who could not answer. It was dreadful to her, and she was glad when they reached the Court House and were for a little time alone in the anteroom to which Paul was taken. The Court House was a large one for the size of the town and comparatively new. Mr. Ralston’s money had helped to build it. Indeed, he had given more towards its erection than any one else, and now his son was to be tried in it. Every available seat was taken before the session opened. A great many people had left the Island,—some to avoid being subœnaed, others because business called them home, but their places had been filled and the hotels and boarding houses were doing a thriving business. They were empty this morning. The guests were all at the court house, waiting the appearance of the prisoner. Judge Ralston had taken his seat near where Paul would sit. Beside him was his wife, white and corpse-like. Miss Hansford sat not far away,—with fire in her eyes as they rested on the sea of heads there to look at Paul, and Elithe, who sat beside her, with a blue veil over her hat effectually hiding her face from the eyes bent upon her. There were many rumors in circulation concerning the young girl, who was nearly as much talked of as Paul. That Jack Percy had been in love with her and known to her as Mr. Pennington, until she saw him dying, everybody knew, while many believed that she had been engaged to him, for hadn’t the papers said so? That she was to be the principal witness against Paul was generally understood and great was the anxiety to see her. “That’s she, with the blue veil, sitting by that cross-looking old woman,” was buzzed about, and many were the wishes expressed that she would remove her veil. She would have to do it when called to the stand, and with that reflection the crowd consoled themselves and waited for Paul, who would not be veiled.