mind at the end of that period—well, perhaps
she would yield to his urgent wishes.

On the morning of the Leeford Fair he left
home early, and returned towards dusk so—
it was said by Hester. No other person saw
him until noon next day. Joseph Rigby
was found murdered, and thrown into
a gully by the Leeford road, that night.
There were traces of a violent struggle upon
the road, and the body had been dragged
some distance. It had been rifled of money
and watch, but a broad engraved ring which
Rigby wore on the fourth finger of his left
hand, was not removed. He was known to
have left the market-hall at Leeford with a
considerable sum in gold upon his person, for
his brother-in-law had remonstrated with
him about carrying so much; but the doomed
man made light of his warnings. The whole
country-side was up, for the murder was a
barbarous one. Suspicion fell at once on
Hester's son. His behaviour at Leeford had
attracted observation. He had been seen to
use angry gestures to Rigby, who had laughed
at him, and had offered the young man his
hand, as if wishing to be friends; the other
had rejected it, and turned away, shaking his
clenched fist. He had also been seen to
mount his horse at the inn door, and ride off
in the afternoon. Rigby started about an
hour later, and alone. He was seen no more
until his body was found in the ditch by
some men going to their work in the morning.

When Wilfred was taken, he and his
mother were sitting by the fireside together:
she sewing; he reading. It was towards
twilight, and he had not been over the
threshold all day. He was very downcast
and gloomy; irritable when spoken to,
and short in his answers. His mother said
to him that he was very strange, and added
that she wished he would give over hankering
after Nelly Graceless. He laughed
painfully, and did not lift his eyes from his book.
There was a loud knock at the door. Hester
rose and opened it. Three men pushed their
way into the house, the foremost asking if
her son was at home.

"Yes; he is in there, by the fire. What
do you want with him?"

"You must come with us, Mr. Wilfred—
nay, it's no use showing fight," cried a burly,
muscular fellow, laying his hand heavily on
his shoulder; for Wilfred had turned deadly
pale, and had attempted to shake off the
man's grasp.

"What is it for? " asked Hester, with her
eyes on her son.

"God knows.—I don't," said he, quietly.

"Mr. Rigby was robbed and murdered last
night, as he came home from Leeford Fair,
and suspicion points at your lad, mistress,"
said the man, who still held his hand on
Wilfred's shoulder.

Hester gave utterance to no frantic
denials; she laughed, even.

"Why he was at home by this hour yesterday,

in this very room, at his tea. Wasn't
he, Jessy?" said she, turning to the maid-
servant; who, with a countenance of alarm,
stood by the door.

The girl said " Yes; " then hesitated, and
added that she didn't see young master when
she brought in tea.

"I was up-stairs," said Wilfred.

"You had better keep all that for another
time and place: you must go with us
now," observed the man.

Wilfred made no resistance. His mother
brought him his coat, and helped him to put
it on.

"Say thou didn't do it, Willy—only say
so? " whispered she, fiercely.

"I didn't mother: so help me, God! " was
his fervent reply.

"You hear him! " cried Hester, turning
to the men; "you hear him! He never
lied in his days. He might have killed
Rigby in a fair fight, or in hot blood; but he
is not the lad to lie in wait at night, to
murder his enemy and rob him! He is not
a thief, this son of mine!"

The officers urged their departure.
Wilfred was placed in the vehicle which had been
brought for the purpose, and driven off.

"I'll follow thee, Willy! " cried his
mother. " Keep up thy heart; they can't
touch thee! Good-bye, my poor lad!"

They were out of hearing, and Hester
turned back into the house, cursing Nelly
Graceless in her heart.

Wilfred was committed to take his trial at
the winter gaol-delivery on a charge of wilful
murder. The evidence against him was
overwhelming. Hester sold the Ings and
collected all the money she could, that, if
gold would buy his redemption, it might be
done; for herself, she had a perfect faith in
his innocence, and was confident of his
acquittal, but few persons, if any, shared her
feelings. The best legal advice had been
retained for the accused, and the trial came on
shortly before Christmas. Hester was the
only witness for her son. The woman Jessy's
evidence damaged his cause considerably.
She contradicted herself over and over again,
and at last, flurried and confused, she burst
into tears, crying out that she would say
anything to get her young master off. There
was nobody to speak with certainty as
to the prisoner's having been at home by a
certain hour but his mother; he had put his
horse into the stable himself, the groom being
absent at the fair, and Jessy could not swear
that he was in to tea; she believed not;
only one cup was used.

Two witnesses, labourers on a farm near
the Ings, swore to having seen and spoken to
the prisoner after the hour stated; they said
he was riding fast, and seemed agitated, but
it was too dark to see his face. Nelly Price
also had her word against him; it was drawn
from her reluctantly, in the midst of shame-
faced tears and noisy sobs, but it quite overthrew