 little parlour in Malthouse Yard.
    Esther had felt some relief in hearing from her father that Felix had
insisted on doing without his mother's presence; and since to Mrs Holt's
imagination, notwithstanding her general desire to have her character inquired
into, there was no greatly consolatory difference between being a witness and a
criminal, and an appearance of any kind before the judge could hardly be made to
suggest anything definite that would overcome the dim sense of unalleviated
disgrace, she had been less inclined than usual to complain of her son's
decision. Esther had shuddered beforehand at the inevitable farce there would be
in Mrs Holt's testimony. But surely Felix would lose something for want of a
witness who could testify to his behaviour in the morning before he became
involved in the tumult?
    »He is really a fine young fellow,« said Harold, coming to speak to Esther
after a colloquy with the prisoner's solicitor. »I hope he will not make a
blunder in defending himself.«
    »He is not likely to make a blunder,« said Esther. She had recovered her
colour a little, and was brighter than she had been all the morning before.
    Felix had seemed to include her in his general glance, but had avoided
looking at her particularly. She understood how delicate feeling for her would
prevent this, and that she might safely look at him, and towards her father,
whom she could see in the same direction. Turning to Harold to make an
observation, she saw that he was looking towards the same point, but with an
expression on his face that surprised her.
    »Dear me,« she said, prompted to speak without any reflection; »how angry
you look! I never saw you look so angry before. It is not my father you are
looking at?«
    »Oh no! I am angry at something I'm looking away from,« said Harold, making
an effort to drive back the troublesome demon who would stare out at window.
»It's that Jermyn,« he added, glancing at his mother as well as Esther. »He will
thrust himself under my eyes everywhere since I refused him an interview and
returned his letter. I'm determined never to speak to him directly again, if I
can help it.«
    Mrs Transome heard with a changeless face. She had for some time been
watching, and had taken on her marble look of immobility. She said an inward
bitter »Of course!« to everything that was unpleasant.
    After this Esther soon became impatient of all speech: her
