this stirring day except what might be obtained by exercise of an almost unlimited patience.
There had been much doubt as to what arrangement for her attendance at the court it might be best for Lady Mason to make, and some difficulty too as to who should decide as to these arrangements. Mr. Aram had been down more than once, and had given a hint that it would be well that something should be settled. It had ended in his settling it himself,—he, with the assistance of Mrs. Orme. What would Sir Peregrine have said had he known that on any subject these two had been leagued in council together?
'She can go from hence in a carriage—a carriage from the inn,' Mrs. Orme had said.
'Certainly, certainly; a carriage from the inn; yes. But in the evening, ma'am?'
'When the trial is over?' said Mrs. Orme, inquiring from him his meaning.
'We can hardly expect that it shall be over in one day, ma'am. She will continue to be on bail, and can return home. I will see that she is not annoyed as she leaves the town.'
'Annoyed?' said Mrs. Orme.
'By the people I mean.'
'Will there be anything of that, sir?' she asked, turning pale at the idea. 'I shall be with her, you know.'
'Through the whole affair, ma'am?'
'Yes, through the whole affair.'
'They'll want to have a look at her of course; but,—Mrs. Orme, we'll see that you are not annoyed. Yes; she had better come back home the first day. The expense won't be much; will it?'
'Oh no,' said Mrs. Orme. 'I must return home, you know. How many days will it be, sir?'
'Well, perhaps two,—perhaps three. It may run on all the week. Of course you know. Mrs. Orme———'
'Know what?' she asked.
'When the trial is over, if—if it should go against us,—then you must return alone.'
And so the matter had been settled, and Mr. Aram himself had ordered the carriage from the inn. Sir Peregrine's carriage would have been at their disposal,—or rather Mrs. Orme's own carriage; but she had felt that The Cleeve arms on The Cleeve panels would be out of place in the streets of Hamworth on such an occasion. It would of course be impossible that she should not be recognized in the court, but she would do as little as possible to proclaim her own presence.
When the morning came, the very morning of the terrible day, Mrs. Orme came down early from her room, as it was necessary that she should breakfast two hours before the usual time. She had
