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my love！ my love！ what harm or wrong had you ever done in this
world； that you should die at eighteen by a blow from a
drunkard's hand？
June 19th。 The trial。 My experience of what happened at it is
limited； like my experience of the examination at the
police…office； to the time occupied in giving my own evidence。
They made me say much more than I said before the magistrate。
Between examination and cross…examination； I had to go into
almost all the particulars about poor Mary and her funeral that I
have written i n this journal； the jury listening to every word I
spoke with the most anxious attention。 At the end； the judge said
a few words to me approving of my conduct； and then there was a
clapping of hands among the people in court。 I was so agitated
and excited that I trembled all over when they let me go out into
the air again。
I looked at the prisoner both when I entered the witness…box and
when I left it。 The lowering brutality of his face was unchanged；
but his faculties seemed to be more alive and observant than they
were at the police…office。 A frightful blue change passed over
his face； and he drew his breath so heavily that the gasps were
distinctly audible while I mentioned Mary by name and described
the mark or the blow on her temple。 When they asked me if I knew
anything of the prisoner； and I answered that I only knew what
Mary herself had told me about his having been her father's ruin；
he gave a kind of groan； and struck both his hands heavily on the
dock。 And when I passed beneath him on my way out of court； he
leaned over suddenly； whether to speak to me or to strike me I
can't say； for he was immediately made to stand upright again by
the turnkeys on either side of him。 While the evidence proceeded
（as Robert described it to me）； the signs that he was suffering
under superstitious terror became more and more apparent； until；
at last； just as the lawyer appointed to defend him was rising to
speak； he suddenly cried out； in a voice that startled every one；
up to the very judge on the bench： 〃Stop！〃
There was a pause； and all eyes looked at him。 The perspiration
was pouring over his face like water； and he made strange；
uncouth signs with his hands to the judge opposite。 〃Stop all
this！〃 he cried again； 〃I've been the ruin of the father and the
death of the child。 Hang me before I do more harm！ Hang me； for
God's sake； out of the way！〃 As soon as the shock produced by
this extraordinary interruption had subsided； he was removed； and
there followed a long discussion about whether he was of sound
mind or not。 The matter was left to the jury to decide by their
verdict。 They found him guilty of the charge of manslaughter；
without the excuse of insanity。 He was brought up again； and
condemned to transportation for life。 All he did； on hearing the
dreadful sentence； was to reiterate his desperate words： 〃Hang me
before I do more harm！ Hang me； for God's sake； out of the way！〃
June 20th。 I made yesterday's entry in sadness of heart； and I
have not been better in my spirits to…day。 It is something to
have brought the murderer to the punishment that he deserves。 But
the knowledge that this most righteous act of retribution is
accomplished brings no consolation with it。 The law does indeed
punish Noah Truscott for his crime； but can it raise up Mary
Mallinson from her last resting…place in the churchyard？
While writing of the law； I ought to record that the heartless
wretch who allowed Mary to be struck down in his presence without
making an attempt to defend her is not likely to escape with
perfect impunity。 The policeman who looked after him to insure
his attendance at the trial discovered that he had committed past
offenses； for which the law can make him answer。 A summons was
executed upon him； and he was taken before the magistrate the
moment he left the court after giving his evidence。
I had just written these few lines； and was closing my journal；
when there came a knock at the door。 I answered it； thinking that
Robert had called on his way home to say good…night； and found
myself face to face with a strange gentleman； who immediately
asked for Anne Rodway。 On hearing that I was the person inquired
for； he requested five minutes' conversation with me。 I showed
him into the little empty room at the back of the house； and
waited； rather surprised and fluttered； to hear what he had to
say。
He was a dark man； with a serious manner； and a short； stern way
of speaking I was certain that he was a stranger； and yet there
seemed something in his face not unfamiliar to me。 He began by
taking a newspaper from his pocket； and asking me if I was the
person who had given evidence at the trial of Noah Truscott on a
charge of manslaughter。 I answered immediately that I was。
〃I have been for nearly two years in London seeking Mary
Mallinson； and always seeking her in vain；〃 he said。 〃The first
and only news I have had of her I found in the newspaper report
of the trial yesterday。〃
He still spoke calmly； but there was something in the look of his
eyes which showed me that he was suffering in spirit。 A sudden
nervousness overcame me； and I was obliged to sit down。
〃You knew Mary Mallinson； sir？〃 I asked； as quietly as I could。
〃I am her brother。〃
I clasped my hands and hid my face in despair。 Oh； the bitterness
of heart with which I heard him say those simple words！
〃You were very kind to her；〃 said the calm； tearless man。 〃In her
name and for her sake； I thank you。〃
〃Oh； sir；〃 I said； 〃why did you never write to her when you were
in foreign parts？〃
〃I wrote often；〃 he answered； 〃but each of my letters contained a
remittance of money。 Did Mary tell you she had a stepmother？ If
she did； you may guess why none of my letters were allowed to
reach her。 I now know that this woman robbed my sister。 Has she
lied in telling me that she was never informed of Mary's place of
abode？〃
I remembered that Mary had never communicated with her stepmother
after the separation； and could therefore assure him that the
woman had spoken the truth。
He paused for a moment after that； and sighed。 Then he took out a
pocket…book； and said：
〃I have already arranged for the payment of any legal expenses
that may have been incurred by the trial； but I have still to
reimburse you for the funeral charges which you so generously
defrayed。 Excuse my speaking bluntly on this subject； I am
accustomed to look on all matters where money is concerned purely
as matters of business。〃
I saw that he was taking several bank…notes out of the
pocket…book； and stopped him。
〃I will gratefully receive back the little money I actually paid；
sir； because I am not well off； and it would be an ungracious act
of pride in me to refuse it from you；〃 I said； 〃but I see you
handling bank…notes； any one of which is far beyond the amount
you have to repay me。 Pray put them back； sir。 What I did for
your poor lost sister I did from my love and fondness for her。
You have thanked me for that； and your thanks are all I can
receive。〃
He had hitherto concealed his feelings； but I saw them now begin
to get the better of him。 His eyes softened； and he took my hand
and squeezed it hard。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 he said； 〃I beg your pardon； with all my
heart。〃
There was silence between us； for I was crying； and I believe； at
heart； he was crying too。 At last he dropped my hand； and seemed
to change back； by an effort； to his former calmness。
〃Is there no one belonging to you to whom I can be of service？〃
he asked。 〃I see among the witnesses on the trial the name of a
young man who appears to have assisted you in the inquiries which
led to the prisoner's conviction。 Is he a relation？〃
〃No； sirat least； not nowbut I hope〃
〃What？〃
〃I hope that he may； one day； be the nearest and dearest relation
to me that a woman can have。〃 I said those words boldly； because
I was afraid of his otherwise taking some wrong view of the
connection between Robert and me
〃One day？〃 he repeated。 〃One day may be a long time hence。〃
〃We are neither of us well off； sir；〃 I said。 〃One day means the
day when we are a little richer than we are now。〃
〃Is the young man educated？ Can he produce testimonials to his
character？ Oblige me by writing his name and address down on the
back of that card。〃
When I had obeyed； in a handwriting which I am afraid did me no
credit； he took out another card and gave it to me。
〃I shall leave England to…morrow；〃 he said。 〃There is nothing now
to keep me in my own country。 If you are ever in any difficulty
or distress （which I pray God you may never be）； apply to my
London agent； whose address you have there。〃
He stopped； and looked at me attentively； then took my hand
again。
〃Wher e is she buried？〃 he said； suddenly； in a quick whisper；
turning his head away。
I told him； and added that we had made the grave as beautiful as
we could with grass and flowers。 I saw his lips whiten and
tremble。
〃God bless and reward you！〃 he said； and drew me toward him
quickly and kissed my forehead。 I was quite overcome； and sank
down and hid my face on the table。 When I looked up again he was
gone。