I only
knew it by the ring!"
Then he made me sit down again, whilst he replaced the firewood; and
then, with the utmost quietness, we set out to return, I holding the
lantern in one hand, and with the other clinging to his arm (for the
apparition that had been my guide before was gone), and he carrying the
awful relic in his other hand. Once, as we were leaving the yard, he
whispered--
"Look!"
"I see nothing," said I.
"Hold up your lantern," he whispered.
"There is nothing but the dog-kennel," I said.
"Miss Dorothy," he said, "_the dog has not barked tonight!_"
By the time we reached home, my mind had fully realized the importance
of our discovery, and the terribly short time left us in which to profit
by it, supposing, as I fully believed, that it was the first step to the
vindication of George's innocence. As we turned into the gate, Robert,
who had been silent for some time broke out--
"Miss Dorothy! Mr. George Manners is as innocent as I am; and
God forgive us all for doubting him! What shall we do?"
"I am going up to town," I said, "and you are going with me. We will go
to Dr. Penn. He has a lodging close by the prison: I have the address.
At eight o'clock to-morrow the king himself could not undo this
injustice.
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