Shehadcommittedherselfsofullytothepoliceman，thatshecouldnotwellretract；sowithoutmuchdelayinbringingthequestionroundtothedesiredpoint，thegunwasproducedincourt，andtheinquirymade——“Thatgunbelongstoyourson，doesitnot？“Sheclenchedthesidesofthewitness-boxinhereffortstomakeherparchedtongueutterwords。Atlastshemoanedforth，“Oh!Jem，Jem!whatmunIsay？“Everyonebentforwardtoheartheprisoner’sanswer；although，infact，itwasoflittleimportancetotheissueofthetrial。Helifteduphishead；andwithafacebrimmingfullofpityforhismother，yetresolvedintoendurance，said“Tellthetruth，mother。“Andsoshedid，withthefidelityofalittlechild。Everyonefeltthatshedid；andthelittlecolloquybetweenmotherandson，didthemsomeslightserviceintheopinionoftheaudience。Buttheawfuljudgesatunmoved；andthejurymenchangednotamuscleoftheircountenances；whilethecounselfortheprosecutionwenttriumphantlythroughthispartofthecase，includingthefactofJem’sabsencefromhomeonthenightofthemurder，andbringingeveryadmissiontobearrightagainsttheprisoner。Itwasover。Shewastoldtogodown。Butshecouldnolongercompelhermother’shearttokeepsilence，andsuddenlyturningtowardsthejudgewithwhomsheimaginedtheverdicttorest，shethusaddressedhimwithherchokingvoice：“Andnow，sir，I’vetelledyouthetruth，andthewholetruth，ashebidme；butdon’tyeletwhatI’vesaidgofortohanghim；oh，mylordjudge，takemywordforit，he’sasinnocentasthechildashasyettobeborn。Forsure，I，whoamhismother，andhavenursedhimonmyknee，andbeengladdenedbythesightofhimeverydaysince，oughttoknowhimbetterthanyonpackoffellows“indicatingthejury，whileshestroveagainstherhearttorenderherwordsdistinctandclearforherdearson’ssake“who，I’llgobail，neversawhimbeforethismorninginalltheirborndays。Mylordjudge，he’ssogoodIoftenwonderedwhatharmtherewasinhim；manyisthetimewhenI’vebeenfrettedforI’mfrabbitenoughattimes，whenI’vescold’tmyself，andsaid，’Youungratefulthing，theLordGodhasgivenyouJem，andisn’tthatblessingenoughforyou。’ButHehasseenfittopunishme。IfJemis——ifJemis——takenfromme，Ishallbeachildlesswoman；andverypoor，havingnoughtlefttoloveonearth，andIcannotsay’Hiswillbedone。’Icannot，mylordjudge，oh，Icannot。“Whilesobbingoutthesewordsshewasledawaybytheofficersofthecourt，buttenderly，andreverently，withtherespectwhichgreatsorrowcommands。Thestreamofevidencewentonandon，gatheringfreshforcefromeverywitnesswhowasexamined，andthreateningtooverwhelmpoorJem。Alreadytheyhadprovedthatthegunwasis，thathehadbeenheardnotmanydaysbeforethecommissionofthedeedtothreatenthedeceased；indeed，thatthepolicehad，atthattime，beenobligedtointerfere，topreventsomeprobableactofviolence。Itonlyremainedtobringforwardasufficientmotiveforthethreatandthemurder。Thecluetothishadbeenfurnishedbythepoliceman，whohadoverheardJem’sangrylanguagetoMrCarson；
andhisreportinthefirstinstancehadoccasionedthesubpoenatoMary。Andnowshewastobecalledontobearwitness。Thecourtwasbythistimealmostasfullasitcouldhold；butfreshattemptswerebeingmadetosqueezeinatalltheentrances，formanywereanxioustoseeandhearthispartofthetrial。OldMrCarsonfeltanadditionalbeatathisheartatthethoughtofseeingthefatalHelen，thecauseofall，——akindofinterestandyetrepugnance，forwasnotshebelovedbythedead；nay，perhapsinherway，lovingandmourningforthesamebeingthathehimselfwassobitterlygrievingover？
Andyethefeltasifheabhorredherandherrumouredloveliness，asifshewerethecurseagainsthim；andhegrewjealousofthelovewithwhichshehadinspiredhisson，andwouldfainhavedeprivedherofevenhernaturalrightofsorrowingoverherlover’suntimelyend：foryouseeitwasafixedideainthemindsofall，thatthehandsome，bright，gay，richyounggentlemanmusthavebeenbelovedinpreferencetotheserious，almoststern-lookingsmith，whohadtotoilforhisdailybread。HithertotheeffectofthetrialhadequalledMrCarson’smostsanguinehopes，andaseverelookofsatisfactioncameoverthefaceoftheavenger，——overthatcountenancewhencethesmilehaddeparted，nevermoretoreturn。Alleyesweredirectedtothedoorthroughwhichthewitnessesentered。
EvenJemlookeduptocatchoneglimpse，beforehehidhisfacefromherlookofaversion。Theofficerhadgonetofetchher。ShewasinexactlythesameattitudeaswhenJobLeghhadseenhertwohoursbeforethroughthehalf-opendoor。Notafingerhadmoved。Theofficersummonedher，hutshedidnotstir。Shewassostill，hethoughtshehadfallenasleep，andhesteppedforwardandtouchedher。Shestartedupinaninstant，andfollowedhimwithakindofrushingrapidmotionintothecourt，intothewitness-box。Andamidallthatseaoffaces，mistyandswimmingbeforehereyes，shesawbuttwoclearbrightspots，distinctandfixedthejudge，whomighthavetocondemn；andtheprisoner，whomighthavetodie。Themellowsunlightstreameddownthathighwindowonherhead，andfellontherichtreasureofhergoldenhair，stuffedawayinmassesunderherlittlebonnet-cap；andinthosewarmbeamsthemoteskeptdancinguanddown。Thewindhadchanged——hadchangedalmostassoonasshehadgivenupherwatching；thewindhadchanged，andsheheededitnot。Manywhowerelookingformerefleshandbloodbeauty，merecolouring，weredisappointed；forherfacewasdeadlywhite，andalmostsetinitsexpression，whileamournfulbewilderedsoullookedoutofthedepthsofthosesoft，deep，greyeyes。Butothersrecognisedahigherandastrangerkindofbeauty；onethatwouldkeepitsholdonthememoryformanyafteryears。Iwasnottheremyself；butonewhowas，toldmethatherlook，andindeedherwholeface，wasmorelikethewell-knownengravingfromGuido’spictureof“BeatriceCenci“thananythingelsehecouldgivemeanideaof。Headded，thathercountenancehauntedhim，liketheremembranceofsomewildsadmelody，heardinchildhood；thatitwouldperpetuallyrecurwithitsmuteimploringagony。Withallthecourtreelingbeforeheralwayssaveandexceptthoseawfultwo，sheheardavoicespeak，andansweredthesimpleinquirysomethingabouthernamemechanically，asifinadream。Soshewentonfortwoorthreemorequestions，withastrangewonderinherbrain，attherealityoftheterriblecircumstancesinwhichshewasplaced。Suddenlyshewasroused，sheknewnothoworbywhat。Shewasconsciousthatallwasreal，thathundredswerelookingather，thattrue-soundingwordswerebeingextractedfromher；thatthatfigure，soboweddown，withthefaceconcealedwithbothhands，wasreallyJem。Herfaceflashedscarlet，andthen，palerthanbefore。Butindreadofherself；withthetremendoussecretimprisonedwithinher，sheexertedeverypowershehadtokeepinthefullunderstandingofwhatwasgoingon，ofwhatshewasasked，andofwhatsheanswered。Withallherfacultiespreternaturallyaliveandsensitive，sheheardthenextquestionfromthepertyoungbarrister，whowasdelightedtohavetheexaminationofthiswitness。“Andpray，mayIask，whichwasthefavouredlover？Yousayyouknewboththeseyoungmen。Whichwasthefavouredlover？Whichdidyouprefer？“Andwhowashe，thequestioner，thatheshoulddaresolightlytoaskofherheart’ssecrets？Thatheshoulddaretoaskhertotell，beforethatmultitudeassembledthere，whatwomanusuallywhisperswithblushesandtears，andmanyhesitations，tooneearalone？So，foraninstant，alookofindignationcontractedMary’sbrow，asshesteadilymettheeyesoftheimpertinentcounsellor。But，inthatinstant，shesawthehandsremovedfromafacebeyond，behind；andacountenancerevealedofsuchintenseloveandwoe，——suchadeprecatingdreadofheranswer；andsuddenlyherresolutionwastaken。Thepresentwaseverything；
thefuture，thatvastshroud，itwasmaddeningtothinkupon；butnowshemightownherfault，butnowshemightevenownherlove。Now，whenthebelovedstoodthus，abhorredofmen，therewouldbenofeminineshametostandbetweenherandheravowal。Soshealsoturnedtowardsthejudge，partlytomarkthatheranswerwasnotgiventothemonkeyfiedmanwhoquestionedher，andlikewisethatthefacemightbeavertedfrom，andhereyesnotgazeupon，theformthatcontractedwiththedreadofthewordsheanticipated。“HeasksmewhichofthemtwoIlikedbest。PerhapsIlikedMrHarryCarsononce——Idon’tknow——I’veforgotten；butIlovedJamesWilson，that’snowontrial，abovewhattonguecantell——aboveallelseonearthputtogether；
andIlovehimnowbetterthanever，thoughhehasneverknownawordofittillthisminute。Foryousee，sir，motherdiedbeforeIwasthirteen，beforeIcouldknowrightfromwrongaboutsomethings；andIwasgiddyandvain，andreadytolistentoanypraiseofmygoodlooks；andthispooryoungMrCarsonfellinwithme，andtoldmehelovedme；andIwasfoolishenoughtothinkhemeantmemarriage：amotherisapitifullosstoagirl，sir；andsoIusedtofancyIcouldliketobealady，andrich，andneverknowwantanymore。IneverfoundouthowdearlyIlovedanothertilloneday，whenJamesWilsonaskedmetomarryhim，andIwasveryhardandsharpinmyanswerfor，indeed，sir，I’dadealtobearjustthen，andhetookmeatmywordandleftme；andfromthatdaytothisI’veneverspokenawordtohim，orseteyesonhim；thoughI’dfainhavedoneso，totryandshowhimwehadbothbeentoohasty；forhe’dnotbeengoneoutofmysightaboveaminutebeforeIknewIloved——farabovemylife，“
saidshe，droppinghervoiceasshecametothissecondconfessionofthestrengthofherattachment。“But，ifthegentlemanasksmewhichIlovedthebest，Imakeanswer，IwasflatteredbyMrCarson，andpleasedwithhisflattery；butJamesWilsonI——“Shecoveredherfacewithherhands，tohidetheburningscarletblushes，whichevendyedherfingers。Therewasalittlepause；still，thoughherspeechmightinspirepityfortheprisoner，itonlystrengthenedthesuppositionofhisguilt。Presentlythecounsellorwentonwithhisexamination。“ButyouhaveseenyoungMrCarsonsinceyourrejectionoftheprisoner？““Yes，often。““Youhavespokentohim，Iconclude，atthesetimes。““Onlyonce，tocallspeaking。““Andwhatwasthesubstanceofyourconversation？Didyoutellhimyoufoundyoupreferredhisrival？““No，sir。Idon’tthinkasI’vedonewronginsaying，nowasthingsstand，whatmyfeelingsare；butIneverwouldbesoboldastotelloneyoungmanIcaredforanother。InevernamedJem’snametoMrCarson。Never。““ThenwhatdidyousaywhenyouhadthisfinalconversationwithMrCarson？
Youcangivemethesubstanceofit，ifyoudon’trememberthewords。““I’lltry，sir；butI’mnotveryclear。ItoldhimIcouldnotlovehim，andwishedtohavenothingmoretodowithhim。Hedidhisbesttoover-persuademe，butIkeptsteady，andatlastIranoff。““Andyouneverspoketohimagain。““Never!““Now，youngwoman，rememberyouareuponyouroath。DidyouevertelltheprisoneratthebarofMrHenryCarson’sattentionstoyou？ofyouracquaintance，inshort？Didyouevertrytoexcitehisjealousybyboastingofaloversofaraboveyouinstation？““Never。Ineverdid，“saidshe，insofirmanddistinctamannerastoleavenodoubt。“WereyouawarethatheknewofMrHenryCarson’sregardforyou？Rememberyouareonyouroath!““Never，sir。IwasnotawareuntilIheardofthequarrelbetweenthem，andwhatJemhadsaidtothepoliceman，andthatwasafterthemurder。
TothisdayIcan’tmakeoutwhotoldJem。Oh，sir，maynotIgodown？“Forshefeltthesense，thecomposure，theverybodilystrengthwhichshehadcompelledtoheraidforatime，suddenlygivingway，andwasconsciousthatshewaslosingallcommandoverherself。Therewasnooccasiontodetainherlonger；shehaddoneherpart。Shemightgodown。Theevidencewasstillstrongeragainsttheprisoner；butnowhestooderectandfirm，withself-respectinhisattitude，andalookofdeterminationonhisface，whichalmostmadeitappearnoble。Yetheseemedlostinthought。JobLeghhadallthistimebeentryingtosootheandcomfortMrsWilson，whowouldfirstbeinthecourt，inordertoseeherdarling，andthen，whenhersobsbecameirrepressible，hadtobeledoutintotheopenair，andsatthereweeping，onthestepsofthecourt-house。WhowouldhavetakenchargeofMary，onherreleasefromthewitness-box，Idonotknow，ifMrsSturgis，theboatman’swife，hadnotbeenthere；broughtbyherinterestinMary，towardswhomshenowpressed，inordertourgehertoleavethesceneofthetrial。“No!no!“saidMary，tothisproposition。“Imustbehere。Imustwatchthattheydon’thanghim，youknowImust。““Oh!they’llnothanghim!neverfear!Besides，thewindhaschanged，andthat’sinhisfavour。Comeaway。You’resohot，andfirstwhiteandthenred；I’msureyou’reill。Justcomeaway。““Oh!Idon’tknowaboutanythingbutthatImuststay，“repliedMary，inastrangehurriedmanner，catchingholdofsomerailsasifshefearedsomebodilyforcewouldbeemployedtoremoveher。SoMrsSturgisjustwaitedpatientlybyher，everynowandthenpeepingamongthecongregationofheadsinthebodyofthecourt，toseeifherhusbandwerestillthere。