As the Judge finished his charge, the spectators anxiously watched the faces of the jury.  It was not a remunerative study.  In the court room the general feeling was in favor of Laura, but whether this feeling extended to the jury, their stolid faces did not reveal.  The public outside hoped for a conviction, as it always does; it wanted an example; the newspapers trusted the jury would have the courage to do its duty.  When Laura was convicted, then the public would tern around and abuse the governor if he did; not pardon her.

The jury went out.  Mr. Braham preserved his serene confidence, but Laura’s friends were dispirited.  Washington and Col.  Sellers had been obliged to go to Washington, and they had departed under the unspoken fear the verdict would be unfavorable, a disagreement was the best they could hope for, and money was needed.  The necessity of the passage of the University bill was now imperative.

The Court waited, for, some time, but the jury gave no signs of coming in.  Mr. Braham said it was extraordinary.  The Court then took a recess for a couple of hours.  Upon again coming in, word was brought that the jury had not yet agreed.

But the, jury, had a question.  The point upon which, they wanted instruction was this.  They wanted to know if Col.  Sellers was related to the Hawkins family.  The court then adjourned till morning.

Mr. Braham, who was in something of a pet, remarked to Mr. O’Toole that they must have been deceived, that juryman with the broken nose could read!

CHAPTER LVII.

The momentous day was at hand—­a day that promised to make or mar the fortunes of Hawkins family for all time.  Washington Hawkins and Col.  Sellers were both up early, for neither of them could sleep.  Congress was expiring, and was passing bill after bill as if they were gasps and each likely to be its last.  The University was on file for its third reading this day, and to-morrow Washington would be a millionaire and Sellers no longer, impecunious but this day, also, or at farthest the next, the jury in Laura’s Case would come to a decision of some kind or other—­they would find her guilty, Washington secretly feared, and then the care and the trouble would all come back again, and these would be wearing months of besieging judges for new trials; on this day, also, the re-election of Mr. Dilworthy to the Senate would take place.  So Washington’s mind was in a state of turmoil; there were more interests at stake than it could handle with serenity.  He exulted when he thought of his millions; he was filled with dread when he thought of Laura.  But Sellers was excited and happy.  He said: