accused. Although the court-house was crowded, yet when the prisoner
was called to the bar, a pin could be heard to drop in any part of the
place. There was a single female figure leaning on the arm of an aged
and silver-haired, though hale and healthy countryman, within a few feet
of the dock; and as the prisoner advanced, and laying his hand on the
iron railing, confronted the judges and the court, she slowly raised the
hood of the cloak, in which she was completely muffled, and gazed long
and earnestly on his face. There was in that wistful look, a fear--a
hope--an undying tenderness; and when his eye met hers, there was a
proud, yet soft and warm expression in its glance, that reassured her
sinking heart. As she looked round on the court, and the many strange
faces, and all the striking paraphernalia of justice, a slight shudder
crept silently over her frame, and she clung closer to her companion, as
if to ask for all the protection he could afford. It was Ellen and her
father who came, the former summoned as a witness, and the latter to
accompany and support the daughter of his aged heart.

Duncan was arraigned: and on being asked the usual question of "guilty,
or not guilty?" he answered in a clear, calm voice, "Not guilty, my
Lord!" and the trial proceeded. The same evidence that was given at the
magistrate's house was a second time repeated; and, evidently, its train
of circumstances made a deep impression on the court. While the first
part of the examination was going forward, Ellen remained as motionless
as a statue, scarcely daring to move or breathe; but when the
depositions went more and more against Owen, her respirations became
quick, short, and gaspish; and when the crier desired her to get up on
the table, it was with difficulty that she obeyed him. When seated,
she gazed timidly round on the crowd of counsellors and the judges, as
though to bespeak their sympathy; but then, not meeting a single glance
from which to glean even the shadow of hope, she covered her face with