If that should be "Not guilty," she would claim the unhappy prisoner at once, and take him to some strange place where she could devote herself to caring for him in that helplessness which renewed all his claims upon her.

If it were "Guilty," she would go immediately to the seat of Government and never cease her efforts till she obtained his pardon.

She felt no fear whatever of succeeding in this--his wretchedness and imbecility would be unanswerable arguments--no one would refuse to her the miserable remnant of such a life.
Lucia heard, and shared in arranging all these plans.

She was still ignorant that they were not intended to include herself, and Mrs.
Costello shrank from embittering the last months of their companionship by the anticipations of parting.

Thus they continued to live in the tranquil semblance of their former happiness, while winter settled in round them, and the time which must inevitably break up the calm drew nearer and nearer.
Mrs.Bellairs and her sister came back from their visit.