"Where's he that says it was not? My Michael? Na, na; 'tis some of them that murdered her. But they cannot get quit of the blood. The young squire would break the connection, would he? Na, na; it was a good marriage, and the ties are too strong." "Pray, madam," the plaintiff's leader now asked, "did anything particular happen on this occasion?" "I dinna understand it at all." "Did you not notice something ... about the ring?" "Well, the minister was nervous-like, and dropped it, and I said it was no a sign of luck. But I dinna understand it at all." "Did you know the person whom you call minister, madam?" "Know him! he was living like at Dame Sennor's, away on the cliff. So they told me." "Where is Mrs. Sennor now? Is she here?" "Why, sir, Dame Sennor's been dead and gone this many a year." "Had you ever seen the minister before the ceremony?" "I canna say that I had. But he married my Margaret, and that I am well certain." "How long did your daughter survive afterwards, madam?" "A little better than three years. But it was a long time sin' I had seen her." "You used the word 'murdered.' What did you mean, ma'am?" "Her bliss was made her bane," Maud answered fiercely. "The squire broke her heart, and none of hers were let to come nigh her." Neither side, it may be observed, chose to confront the old woman with Everope, and inquire concerning her recognition of him. But the judge now desired him to stand forward. "Look at that person, madam," said his lordship. "Can you say whether that is the man who performed this marriage?" "Well, I canna tell at all," was the reply. "It's three-and-twenty years agone, and my eyes grow dimly like. I canna tell at all." Polydore Riches was the next witness. He proved Mr. Trevethlan's urgent request to him to perform the ceremony, and his refusal; that Margaret had always been treated as the mistress of the castle; and that her children had been by him duly christened as the offspring of Henry and Margaret Trevethlan. He also deposed to the behaviour of her relations; to the anger it produced in Mr. Trevethlan; to their banishment from the castle, and their undisguised mortification. In cross-examination he stated, as his reason for refusing to celebrate the union, that he disapproved both of itself and of its manner. "I must ask you, Mr. Riches, were there not rumours very prevalent soon after the alleged marriage, that it had not been duly performed?" The question was objected to, but allowed, and the chaplain acknowledged that it was so. "Did you know this Theodore Ashton, Mr. Riches?" "Very slightly indeed." "Are you aware of anything in his character which might make the conduct imputed to him to-day not improbable?" This question was also objected to, and not pressed. "Would you have remained an hour in the castle, Mr. Riches," Rereworth then asked; "had you suspected there was anything fraudulent in the marriage?" "Most certainly I would not."