“I dinna deserve this frae ye, Effie,” said her sister, feeling the injustice of the reproach and compassion for the state of mind which dictated it.

“Maybe no, sister,” said Effie.  “But ye are angry because I love Robertson.  Sure am I, if it had stude wi’ him as it stands wi’ you——­”

“O if it stude wi’ me to save ye wi’ the risk of my life!” said Jeannie.

“Ay, lass,” said her sister, “that’s lightly said, but no sae lightly credited frae ane that winna ware a word for me; and if it be a wrang word, ye’ll hae time enough to repent o’ ’t.”

“But that word is a grievous sin.”

“Well, weel, Jeannie, never speak mair o’ ’t,” said the prisoner.  “It’s as weel as it is.  And gude-day, sister.  Ye keep Mr. Ratcliffe waiting on.  Ye’ll come back and see me, I reckon, before——­”

“And are we to part in this way,” said Jeannie, “and you in sic deadly peril?  O, Effie, look but up and say what ye wad hae me do, and I could find it in my heart amaist to say I wad do ’t.”

“No, Jeannie,” said her sister, with an effort.  “I’m better minded now.  God knows, in my sober mind, I wadna’ wuss any living creature to do a wrang thing to save my life!”

But when Jeannie was called to give her evidence next day, Effie, her whole expression altered to imploring, almost ecstatic earnestness of entreaty, exclaimed, in a tone that went through all hearts: 

“O Jeannie, Jeannie, save me, save me!”

Jeannie suddenly extended her hand to her sister, who covered it with kisses and bathed it with tears; while Jeannie wept bitterly.

It was some time before the judge himself could subdue his own emotion and administer the oath:  “The truth to tell, and no truth to conceal, in the name of God, and as the witness should answer to God at the great Day of Judgement.”  Jeannie, educated in devout reverence for the name of the Deity, was awed, but at the same time elevated above all considerations save those to which she could, with a clear conscience, call him to witness.  Therefore, though she turned deadly pale, and though the counsel took every means to make it easy for her to bear false witness, she replied to his question as to what Effie had said when questioned as to what ailed her, “Alack! alack! she never breathed a word to me about it.”

A deep groan passed through the court, and the unfortunate father fell forward, senseless.  The secret hope to which he had clung had now dissolved.  The prisoner with impotent passion, strove with her guard.  “Let me gang to my father!  He is dead!  I hae killed him!” she repeated in frenzied tones.

Even in that moment of agony Jeannie did not lose that superiority that a deep and firm mind assures to its possessor.  She stooped, and began assiduously to chafe her father’s temples.

The judge, after repeatedly wiping his eyes, gave directions that they should be removed and carefully attended.  The prisoner pursued them with her eyes, and when they were no longer visible, seemed to find courage in her despair.