CHAPTER XVAUSTIN’S SILENCE
“I can’t understand it, Winnie. It seems almost as if every one—like mother—had already made up their minds that—that Roger—”
Grace broke off. She could not bring herself to utter the words “that Roger is guilty.” But Winnie understood.
“Nonsense, dear. There are you and I and George and your father and Austin on his side to begin with, and Mr. Spedding of course—”
“I don’t know about Mr. Spedding,” said Grace slowly, her hands clasped round her knees, her troubled eyes fixed on the fire. “I was with him all the afternoon, you know—there is so much to discuss and to arrange—and I thought his manner very reserved, very strange, and—and uneasy.”
“That’s only because he’s a lawyer. They’re always mysterious. What did he say?”
“Well, when I told him the simple
