But this fear passed from her in the matchless fascination of reading and re-reading five words in the stop-press column:--"MINCHIN CASE--Verdict, Not guilty." Not guilty! Not guilty! And to see it in print! Her eyes filled at the sight, and she dried them to gloat again.

There were columns and columns about the case, embellished with not unskilful sketches of counsel addressing the jury, and of the judge in the act of summing up.

But Rachel had listened to every word from all three; and the professional report was less full and less accurate than the one which she carried in her brain and would carry to her grave.

Not that the speeches mattered now.

It was no speech that had saved her; it was her own story, from her own lips, that the lawyers would have closed! Rachel forgave them now; she was almost grateful to them for having left it to her to save herself in spite of them all: so should her perfect innocence be impressed upon the whole country as on those twelve fair minds.