But would the law allow itself to be used readily for this purpose?
She, too, could understand that the feeling of the community would be against her, and that in such a case the law might allow itself to become slow, lethargic, and perhaps inoperative, yielding to the popular feeling.

She saw the points which were strong against her as clearly as William and Robert Bolton had seen those which were strong on their side.

But----! As she stood there beating her foot angrily on the floor of the passage, she made up her mind that there should be more than one 'but' in his favour.

If they kept her, they should have to lock her up as in a dungeon; they and all the neighbourhood should hear her voice.

They should be driven to do such things that the feeling of the community would be no longer on their side.
Various ideas passed through her mind.