On their return to the Cottage they found Lucia watching with feverish anxiety for their coming and their news; but it was not until mother and daughter were shut up together in Mrs.
Costello's room that all could be told.

Nor even then; for the wife's heart had been too deeply touched; and not even her child could see into its troubled tender depths.

But, nevertheless, Lucia caught from her mother the blessed certainty that, though man's justice might not clear the prisoner of murder, heaven's did; and they rejoiced together over this poor comfort, as if all the rest of their burden were easy to bear.
Afterwards a council was held as to what could be done for Christian's defence.

All legal help possible must be obtained, they decided, at any risk; but to the two women this did not seem enough.

One of them, at least, would have liked to try any scheme, however difficult or absurd, for fixing the guilt upon the true criminal, and so saving the false one; but so far from that, they must not even suffer their agitation and keen interest to be noticed; the very lawyers must be engaged with caution or bound to secrecy.