Then again the battle raged hot and furious, and Moulder became angry with his guest, Bridget Bolster. Kantwise finding himself supported in his views by the principal witness at the trial took heart against the tyranny of Moulder and expressed his opinion, while Mrs. Smiley, with a woman's customary dislike to another woman, sneered ill-naturedly at the idea of Lady Mason's innocence. Poor Kenneby had been forced to take the middle seat on the sofa between his bride and sister; but it did not appear that the honour of his position had any effect in lessening his gloom or mitigating the severity of the judgment which had been passed on him.
'Wasn't the old gentleman's will!' said Moulder, turning on poor Bridget in his anger with a growl. 'But I say it was the old gentleman's will. You never dared say as much as that in court.'
'I wasn't asked,' said Bridget.
'You weren't asked! Yes, you was asked often enough.'
'I'll tell you what it is,' said Kantwise, 'Mrs. Bolster's right in what she says as sure as your name's Moulder.'
'Then as sure as my name's Moulder she's wrong. I suppose we're to think that a chap like you knows more about it than the jury! We all know who your friend is in the matter. I haven't forgot our dinner at Leeds, nor sha'n't in a hurry.'
'Now, John,' said Mrs. Smiley, 'nobody can know the truth of this so well as you do. You've been as close as wax, as was all right till the lady was out of her troubles. That's done and over, and let us hear among friends how the matter really was.' And then there was silence among them in order that his words might come forth freely.
'Come, my dear,' said Mrs. Smiley with a tone of encouraging love. 'There can't be any harm now; can there?'
'Out with it, John,' said Moulder. 'You're honest, anyways.'
'There aint no gammon about you,' said Snengkeld.
'Mr. Kenneby can speak if he likes, no doubt,' said Kantwise; 'though maybe it mayn't be very pleasant to him to do so after all that's come and gone.'
'There's nothing that's come and gone that need make our John hold his tongue,' said Mrs. Moulder. 'He mayn't be just as bright as some of those lawyers, but he's a deal more true-hearted.'
'But he can't say as how it was the old gentleman's will as we signed. I'm well assured of that,' said Bridget.
But Kenneby, though thus called upon by the united strength of the company to solve all their doubts, still remained silent. 'Come, lovey,' said Mrs. Smiley, putting forth her hand and giving his arm a tender squeeze.
'If you've anything to say to clear that woman's character,' said Moulder, 'you owe it to society to say it; becauses she is a woman, and because her enemies is villains.' And then again there was silence while they waited for him.
