Sprowl was very shortly allowed to retire. For the defence
there was but one witness, and that was the laundress who had
employed Ida. Personal fault with Ida she had one at all to find;
the sole cause of her dismissal was the information given by Mrs.
Sprowl. Perhaps she had acted hastily and unkindly, but she had
young girls working in the laundry, and it behoved her to be careful
of them.
Julian's part in the trial had been limited to an examination as to
his knowledge of Ida's alleged thefts. He declared that he knew
nothing save from his wife's statements to him. He had observed
nothing in the least suspicious.
A verdict was returned of "Guilty."
Had the prisoner anything to say? Nothing whatever. There was a
pause, a longer pause than seemed necessary. Then, without remark,
she was sentenced to be imprisoned for six months with hard labour.
Waymark had been drawn to the court in spite of himself.
Strangely quiet hitherto, a fear fell upon him the night be fore the
trial. From an early hour in the morning he walked about the
streets, circling ever nearer to the hateful place. All at once he
found himself facing Mr. Woodstock. The old man's face was darkly
anxious, and he could not change its expression quickly enough.
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