Andtherehealwayswastobeseen，lookingandlisteningwithallhismight。Hiswifefelteasythathewouldnotbewantingherathomeuntilthetrialwasended。Maryneverletgoherclutchedholdontherails。Shewantedthemtosteadyher，inthatheaving，whirlingcourt。Shethoughtthefeelingofsomethinghardcompressedwithinherhandwouldhelphertolisten，foritwassuchpain，suchwearypaininherhead，tostrivetoattendtowhatwasbeingsaid。Theywereallatsea，sailingawayonbillowywaves，andeveryonespeakingatonce，andnooneheedingherfather，whowascallingonthemtobesilent，andlistentohim。Thenagain，forabriefsecond，thecourtstoodstill，andshecouldseethejudge，sittingupthere，likeanidol，withhistrappings，sorigidandstiff；andJem，opposite，lookingather，asiftosay，amItodieforwhatyouknowyour。Thenshecheckedherself，andbyagreatstrugglebroughtherselfroundtoaninstant’ssanity。Buttheroundofthoughtneverstoodstill；andoffshewentagain；
andeverytimeherpowerofstrugglingagainstthegrowingdeliriumgrewfainterandfainter。Shemutteredlowtoherself，butnooneheardherexceptherneighbour，MrsSturgis；allweretoocloselyattendingtothecasefortheprosecution，whichwasnowbeingwoundup。Thecounselfortheprisonerhadavoidedmuchcross-examination，reservingtohimselftherightofcallingthewitnessesforwardagain；forhehadreceivedsolittle，andsuchvagueinstructions，anunderstoodthatsomuchdependedontheevidenceofonewhowasnotforthcoming，thatinfacthehadlittlehopeofestablishinganythinglikeashowofadefence，andcontentedhimselfwithwatchingthecase，andlyinginwaitforanylegalobjectionsthatmightofferthemselves。Helaybackontheseat，occasionallytakingapinchofsnuff，inamannerintendedtobecontemptuous；nowandthenelevatinghiseyebrows，andsometimesexchangingalittlenotewithMrBridgenorthbehindhim。Theattorneyhadfarmoreinterestinthecasethanthebarrister，towhichhewasperhapsexcitedbyhispooroldfriendJobLegh；whohadedgedandwedgedhimselfthroughthecrowdclosetoMrBridgenorth’selbow，sentthitherbyBenSturgis，towhomhehadbeen“introduced“
byCharleyJones，andwhohadaccountedforMary’sdisappearanceontheprecedingday，andspokenoftheirchase，theirfears，theirhopes。AllthiswastoldinafewwordstoMrBridgenorth——sofew，thattheygavehimbutaconfusedidea，thattimewasofvalue；andthisbenamedtohiscounsel，whonowrosetospeakforthedefence。JobLeghlookedaboutforMary，nowhehadgained，andgiven，someideaofthepositionofthings。Atlasthesawher，standingbyadecent-lookingwoman，lookingflushedandanxious，andmovingherlipsincessantlyasifeagerlytalking；hereyesneverrestingonanyobject，butwanderingaboutasifinsearchofsomething。Jobthoughtitwasforhimshewasseeking，andhestruggledtogetroundtoher。Whenhehadsucceeded，shetooknonoticeofhim，althoughhespoke，toher，butstillkeptlookingroundandroundinthesamewild，restlessmanner。Hetriedtohearthelowquickmutteringsofhervoice，ashecaughttherepetitionofthesamewordsoverandoveragain。“Imustnotgomad。Imustnot，indeed。Theysaypeopletellthetruthwhenthey’remad；butIdon’t。Iwasalwaysaliar。Iwas，indeed；butI’mnotmad。Imustnotgomad。Imustnot，indeed。“SuddenlysheseemedtobecomeawarehowearnestlyJobwaslisteningwithmournfulattentiontoherwords，andturningsharprounduponhim，withupbraiding，forhiseaves-dropping，onherlips，shecaughtsightofsomething，——orsomeone，——who，eveninthatstate，hadpowertoarrestherattention；
andthrowingupherarmswithwildenergy，sheshriekedaloud，“Oh，Jem!Jem!you’resaved；andIammad——“andwasinstantlyseizedwithconvulsions。Withmuchcommiserationshewastakenoutofcourt，whiletheattentionofmanywasdivertedfromher，bythefierceenergywithwhichasailorforcedhiswayoverrailsandseats，againstturnkeysandpolicemen。Theofficersofthecourtopposedthisforciblemannerofentrance，buttheycouldhardlyinducetheoffendertoadoptanyquieterwayofattaininghisobject，andtellinghistaleinthewitness-box，thelegitimateplace。ForWillhaddweltsoimpatientlyonthedangerinwhichhisabsencewouldplacehiscousin，thatevenyetheseemedtofearthatbemightseetheprisonercarriedoff，andhung，beforehecouldpouroutthenarrativewhichwouldexculpatehim。AsforJobLegh，hisfeelingswereallbutuncontrollable；asyoumayjudgebytheindifferencewithwhichhesawMaryborne，stiffandconvulsedoutofcourt，inthechargeofthekindMrsSturgis，who，youwillremember，wasanutterstrangertohim。“She’llkeep!I’llnottroublemyselfabouther，“saidhetohimself，ashewrotewithtremblinghandsalittlenoteofinformationtoMrBridgenorth，whohadconjectured，whenWillhadfirstdisturbedtheawfultranquillityofthelife-and-deathcourt，thatthewitnesshadarrivedbetterlatethanneveronwhoseevidencerestedalltheslightchanceyetremainingtoJemWilsonofescapingdeath。Duringthecommotioninthecourt，amongallthecriesandcommands，thedismayandthedirections，consequentuponWill’sentrance，andpoorMary’sfearfulattackofillness，MrBridgenorthhadkepthislawyer-likepresenceofmind；andlongbeforeJobLegh’salmostillegiblenotewaspokedhim，hehadrecapitulatedthefactsonwhichWillhadtogiveevidence，andthemannerinwhichhehadbeenpursued，afterhisshiphadtakenherleaveoftheland。ThebarristerwhodefendedJemtooknewheartwhenhewasputinpossessionofthesestrikingpointstobeadduced，notsomuchoutofearnestnesstosavetheprisoner，ofwhoseinnocencehewasstilldoubtful，asbecausehesawtheopportunitiesforthedisplayofforensiceloquencewhichwerepresentedbythefacts；“agallanttarbroughtbackfromthepathlessoceanbyagirl’snobledaring，“thedangersoftoohastilyjudgingfromcircumstantialevidence，“etc。，etc。；whilethecounsellorfortheprosecutionpreparedhimselfbyfoldinghisarms，elevatinghiseyebrows，andputtinghislipsintheforminwhichtheymightbestwhistledownthewindsuchevidenceasmightbeproducedbyasubornedwitness，whodaredtoperjurehimself。
For，ofcourse，itisetiquettetosupposethatsuchevidenceasmaybegivenagainsttheopinionwhichlawyersarepaidtouphold，isanythingbutbasedontruth；and’“perjury，““conspiracy，“and“perilofyourimmortalsoul，“arelightexpressionstorowattheheadsofthosewhomayprovenotthespeaker，therewouldthenbesomeexcuseforthehastywordsofpersonalanger，butthehirerofthespeakertobewrong，ormistaken。ButwhenonceWillhadattainedhisend，andfeltthathistale，orpartofatale，wouldbeheardbyjudgeorjury；whenoncehesawJemstandingsafeandwellbeforehimeventhoughhesawhimpaleandcare-wornatthefelon’sbar，hiscouragetooktheshapeofpresenceofmind，andheawaitedtheexaminationwithacalm，unflinchingintelligence，whichdictatedtheclearestandmostpertinentanswers。Hetoldthestoryyouknowsowellhowhisleaveofabsencebeingnearlyexpired，hehadresolvedtofulfilhispromise，andgotoseeanuncleresidingintheIsleofMan；
howhismoneysailor-likewasallexpendedinManchester，andhow，consequently，ithadbeennecessaryforhimtowalktoLiverpool，whichhehadaccordinglydoneontheverynightofthemurder，accompaniedasfarasHollinsGreenbyhisfriendandcousin，theprisoneratthebar。Hewasclearanddistinctineverycorroborativecircumstance，andgaveashortaccountofthesingularwayinwhichhehadbeenrecalledfromhisoutward-boundvoyage，andtheterribleanxietyhehadfelt，asthepilot-boathadstruggledhomeagainstthewind。Thejuryfeltthattheiropinionsonearlydecidedhalfanhouragowasshakenanddisturbedinaveryuncomfortableandperplexingway，andwerealmostgratefultothecounselfortheprosecution，whenhegotup，withabrowofthunder，todemolishtheevidence，whichwassobewilderingwhentakeninconnectionwitheverythingpreviouslyadduced。Butifsuch，withoutlookingtotheconsequences，wasthefirstimpulsivefeelingofsomeamongthejury，howshallIdescribethevehemenceofpassionwhichpossessedthemindofpoorMrCarson，ashesawtheeffectoftheyoungsailor’sstatement？ItnevershookhisbeliefinJem’sguiltintheleast，thatattemptatanalibi；hishatred，hislongingforvengeance，havingoncedefinedanobjecttoitself，couldnomorebeartobefrustratedanddisappointed，thanthebeastofpreycansubmittohavehisvictimtakenfromhishungryjaws。NomorelikenesstothecalmsternpowerofJupiterwasthereinthatwhiteeagerface，almostdistortedbyitsfellanxietyofexpression。Thecounseltowhometiquetteassignedthecross-examinationofWill，caughtthelookonMrCarson’sface，andinhisdesiretofurtherhertheintensewishtheremanifested，heover-shothismarkeveninhisfirstinsultingquestion：“Andnow，myman，you’vetoldthecourtaverygoodandveryconvincingstory；noreasonablemanoughttodoubttheunstainedinnocenceofyourrelationatthebar。Stillthereisonecircumstanceyouhaveforgottentoname；andIfeelthatwithoutityourevidenceisratherincomplete。
Willyouhavethekindnesstoinformthegentlemenofthejurywhathasbeenyourchargeforrepeatingthisveryplausiblestory？HowmuchgoodcoinofherMajesty’srealmhaveyoureceived，orareyoutoreceive，forwalkingupfromtheDocks，orsomelesscreditableplace，andutteringthetaleyouhavejustnowrepeated，——verymuchtothecreditofyourinstructor，Imustsay？Remember，sir，youareuponoath。“IttookWillaminutetoextractthemeaningfromthegarbofunaccustomedwordsinwhichitwasinvested，andduringthistimehelookedalittleconfused。Buttheinstantthetruthflasheduponhimhefixedhisbrightcleareyes，flamingwithindignation，uponthecounsellor，whoselookfellatlastbeforethatsternunflinchinggaze。Then，andnottillthen，Willmadeanswer：“Willyoutellthejudgeandjuryhowmuchmoneyyou’vebeenpaidforyourimpudencetowardsonewhohastoldGod’sblessedtruth，andwhowouldscorntotellalie，orblackguardanyone，forthebiggestfeeaseverlawyergotfordoingdirtywork？Willyoutell，sir？——ButI’mready，mylordjudge，totakemyoathasmanytimesasyourlordshiporthejurywouldlike，totestifytothingshavinghappenedjustasIsaid。There’sO’Brien，thepilot，incourtnow。Wouldsomebodywithawigonpleasetoaskhimhowmuchhecansayforme？“Itwasagoodidea，andcaughtatbythecounselforthedefence。O’BriengavejustsuchtestimonyaswasrequiredtoclearWillfromallsuspicion。
Hehadwitnessedthepursuit，hehadheardtheconversationwhichtookplacebetweentheboatandtheship；hehadgivenWillahomewardpassageinhisboat。Andthecharacterofanaccreditedpilot，appointedbytheTrinityHouse，wasknowntobeabovesuspicion。MrCarsonsankbackonhisseatinsickeningdespair。Heknewenoughofcourtstobeawareoftheextremeunwillingnessofjuriestoconvict，evenwheretheevidenceismostclear，whenthepenaltyofsuchconvictionisdeath。Attheperiodofthetrialmostcondemnatorytotheprisoner，hehadrepeatedthisfacttohimself，inordertodamphistoocertainexpectationofaconviction。Nowitneedednotrepetition，foritforceditselfuponhisconsciousness，andheseemedtoknow，evenbeforethejuryretiredtoconsult，thatbysometrick，somenegligence，somemiserablehocus-pocus，themurdererofhischild，hisdarling，hisAbsalom，whohadneverrebelled，——theslayerofhisunburiedboywouldslipthroughthefangsofjusticeandwalkfreeandunscathedoverthatearthwherehissonwouldnevermorebeseen。Itwasevenso。Theprisonerhidhisfaceoncemoretoshieldtheexpressionofanemotionhecouldnotcontrol，fromthenoticeoftheover-curious；
JobLeghceasedhiseagertalkingtoMrBridgenorth；Charleylookedgraveandearnestforthejuryfiledonebyonebackintotheirbox，andthequestionwasaskedtowhichsuchanawfulanswermightbegiven。Theverdicttheyhadcometowasunsatisfactorytothemselvesatlast；
neitherbeingconvincedofhisinnocence，noryetquitewillingtobelievehimguiltyintheteethofthealibi。Butthepunishmentthatawaitedhim，ifguilty，wassoterrible，andsounnaturalasentenceformantopronounceonman，thattheknowledgeofithadweigheddownthescaleonthesideofinnocence，and“NotGuilty“wastheverdictthatthrilledthroughthebreathlesscourt。Onemomentofsilence，andthenthemurmursrose，astheverdictwasdiscussedbyallwithloweredvoice。Jemstoodmotionless，hisheadbowed；poorfellowhewasstunnedwiththerapidcareerofeventsduringthelastfewhours。Hehadassumedhisplaceatthebarwithlittleornoexpectationofanacquittal；andwithscarcelyanydesireforlife，inthecomplicationofoccurrencestendingtostrengthentheideaofMary’smorethanindifferencetohim；shehadlovedanother，andinhermindJembelievedthathehimselfmustberegardedasthemurdererofhimsheloved。Andsuddenly，athwartthisgloomwhichmadeLifeseemsuchablankexpanseofdesolation，thereflashedtheexquisitedelightofhearingMary’savowaloflove，makingthefutureallglorious，ifafutureinthisworldhemighthopetohave。