Miss Mohun met the party at the station, going off, however, with her
brother into court, after having established Lady Merrifield and her
niece in an inn parlour, where they kept as quiet as they could, by the
help of knitting, and reading aloud. Lady Merrifield found that
Dolores had been into court before, and knew enough about it to need no
explanation or preparation, and being much afraid of causing agitation,
she thought it best only to try to interest her in such tales as
'Neale's Triumphs of the Cross,' instead of letting her dwell on what
she most dreaded, the sight of the prisoner, and the punishment her
words might bring upon him.
The morning ended, and Uncle Reginald brought word that his case would
come on immediately after luncheon. This he shared with his sister and
niece, saying that Jane had gone to a pastrycook's with--with
Rotherwood--thinking this best for Dolly. He seemed to be in strangely
excited spirits, and was quite his old self to Dolores, tempting her to
eat, and showing himself so entirely the kind uncle that she would have
been quite cheered up if she had not been afraid that it was all out of
pity, and that he knew something dreadful.
Lord Rotherwood met them at the hotel entrance, and took his cousin on
his arm; Dolores following with her uncle, was sure that she gave a
great start at something that he said; but she had to turn in a
different direction to wait under the charge of her uncle, who treated
her as if she were far more childish and inexperienced in the ways of
courts than she really was, and instructed her in much that she knew
perfectly well; but it was too comfortable to have him kind to her for
her to take the least offence, and she only said 'Yes' and 'Thank you'
at the proper places.
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