“I affirm,” she answered, in a low voice. Then she repeated after him the words of affirmation: “I do most solemnly affirm—that what I tell—is the truth—the whole truth—and nothing but the truth.” “When did you see the prisoner last?” “Yesterday.” “At what time was it?” “In the afternoon.” “But what time was it—at what time in the afternoon was it that you saw him?” She did not answer immediately, and Tom, as he looked at her, saw that she was swaying, as though she was about to fall. “Perhaps the witness had better sit down while she gives her evidence,” said Mr. Morrow. Patty did not seem to understand him, and her father spoke to her in a low voice. Then she sat down mechanically, as though she did not know what she was doing. “Take courage, Patty!” burst out Tom. “God knows I am innocent of this! God knows I am!” “The prisoner must be silent!” said the magistrate, rapping on the desk before him with his knuckles. Then, speaking to Patty again: “At what hour in the afternoon was it that you saw him?” Patty looked up and her eyes met Tom’s. He tried to smile. “Speak out, Patty, and tell everything,” said he. “About five o’clock,” said she, faintly. “What was said between you?” said the magistrate. There was a pause of dead silence, every one listening to catch the answer. At last the magistrate, after waiting a while for her to speak, repeated: “Can you tell me what was said between you?” There was another pause, and still Patty made no answer. Suddenly she burst forth: “Oh, I can’t!—I can’t!—I can’t!” She covered her face with her hands as she spoke, rocking her body back and forth, while convulsive sobs shook her through and through. I think that few eyes were dry in the magistrate’s office. Tom stood looking at his darling with trembling lips, the tears trickling unnoticed down his cheeks. Old Elihu Penrose sat gazing stonily ahead of him, his hands clasped tightly together upon his lap. Nothing was said for some time, and Mr. Morrow sat wiping his spectacles. After a while he spoke in a gentle and soothing manner: “You must answer me—you must, indeed. It is sad, very sad. I wouldn’t ask you these things if I didn’t have to. But you must answer me. Can’t you tell me what was said between you when you saw him last?” “I—I—I told-him—that I was to—to be married—to-day.” There was a moment of hesitation before the magistrate asked the next question. Then it came; “Was there a promise of marriage between you and the prisoner before he left Eastcaster a year and a half ago?” Again there was no answer given to Mr. Morrow’s question, and, after a little pause, the magistrate repeated it. Still Patty said nothing; her face sank lower, lower, lower upon her breast and her hands slid helplessly to her lap; then she swayed slowly from one side to the other. Tom was looking intently at her, and suddenly he gave a sharp and bitter cry:— “Catch her; she’s falling! My God, you’ve killed her!”