her heart. She faltered and trembled. She sank back.

"Oh, I can not, I can not!" she moaned.

"Courage, dear one; it will soon be over," whispered Dudleigh, in an
agitated voice.

Edith made a violent effort to regain her composure. But she felt
helpless. Her senses seemed leaving her; her heart throbbed still more
painfully; her brain whirled. She clung to Dudleigh. But as she clung to
him she felt that he trembled as violently as she herself did. This made
her feel calmer. She pitied him. Poor fellow, she thought, he sees my
agitation. He thinks I hate him. He is broken-hearted. I must be calmer
for his sake.

"Where are the lights?" asked the clergyman.

"Lights?" repeated Dudleigh.

"Yes."

"Well, it won't do to have lights," said he, in the same agitated voice.
"I--I explained all that. The light will show through the window. We
must go down into the vaults."

Outside, it was very obscure; inside, it was quite dark. Edit could see
the outline of a large window and the white sheen of the clergyman's
surplice; nothing more was visible.

The clergyman stood waiting. Dudleigh went to the witness and conversed