"
"I am not a lawyer as you are aware, Constance--only a doctor."
"You are a man with a heart and common sense," she answered, with
just a little shade of rebuke in her tones, "and as God has put in
your way a wretched human soul that may be lost, unless you stretch
forth a saving hand, is there any room for question as to duty?
There is none, my husband! Squire Floyd believes his daughter
guilty; and while he rests in this conclusion, he will not aid her
in anything that points to exposure and disgrace. She must,
therefore, if a vigorous defence is undertaken, look elsewhere for
aid and comfort."
I began to see the matter a little clearer.
"Mr. Wallingford is the best man I know."
"Mr. Wallingford!" I thought Constance would have looked me through.
"Mr. Wallingford!" she repeated, still gazing steadily into my face.
"Are you jesting?"
"No," I replied calmly. "In a case that involves so much, she wants
a wise and good defender; and I do not know of any man upon whom she
could so thoroughly rely."
Constance dropped her eyes to the floor.
"It would not do," she said, after some moments.
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