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328
THAT ROYLE GIRL

witness chair stood empty before her, reminding her of her cross-examination by Mr. Clarke. The jury filed silently to their places; the judge suddenly appeared; Ket was within the doors and Joan Daisy arose hot with triumph at the sight of him. For they had won, he and she! They had proved and justified themselves. This court, before which she had fought for him, must in a moment dismiss him!

"Order," commanded a voice, sternly. "There will be order in the court."

She was making none of the disturbance; she was just standing and staring at Ket, who saw her and smiled at her, drawing his shoulders straight; he passed a hand over his smooth flaxen hair and touched his tie, adjusting it slightly. His clear skin glowed pink with his pleasure at the applause and the excitement, and he nodded, as he used to do at the Echo when dancers clapped and called out to him.

She saw Mr. Ellison and then Mr. Clarke. How pale he was! She raised herself to tiptoes to see his shoulder; and since he made no display of bandages, she thought for a moment that she must have borne a distorted memory of night before last and that he had not been hurt. She succeeded in discerning, however, that his right sleeve was pinned and his coat buttoned over his right arm. Mr. Ellison stayed at his right, carefully avoiding jostle against him.

The judge recognized them and spoke to the jury. Immediately Andreapolos, the foreman, replied, reporting disagreement. The judge's voice again; other voices. Joan Daisy stood down from tiptoes, losing sight of Mr. Clarke except as she caught glimpses of his pale face as others between him and her moved aside. She heard the judge's voice distinctly and knew that the jury was dismissed.