Perhaps there was something in the tone of that one word, indeed,
which, by recalling his extreme youth, touched all hearts more than
even the manly tone of his answer, and his confession. There was a
universal weeping and sobbing throughout the court; Mrs. Pugh was on
the verge of hysterics, and obliged to be supported away; and
Gertrude was choking between the agony of contagious feeling and
dread of Flora's displeasure; and all the time Leonard stood calm,
with his brave head and lofty bearing, wound up for the awful moment
of the sentence.

The weeping was hushed, when the crier of the court made
proclamation, commanding all persons on pain of imprisonment to be
silent. Then the judge placed on his head the black cap, and it was
with trembling hands that he did so; the blood had entirely left his
face, and his lips were purple with the struggle to contend with and
suppress his emotion. He paused, as though he were girding himself
up to the most terrible of duties, and when he spoke his voice was
hollow, as he began:

'Leonard Axworthy Ward, you have been found guilty of a crime that
would have appeared impossible in one removed from temptation by
birth and education such as yours have been. What the steps may have
been that led to such guilt, must lie between your own conscience and
that God whose justice you have acknowledged. To Him you have
evidently been taught to look; and may you use the short time that
still remains to you, in seeking His forgiveness by sincere
repentance. I will forward the recommendation to mercy, but it is my
duty to warn you that there are no such palliating circumstances in
the evidence, as to warrant any expectation of a remission of the