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THE WAYS OF THE HOUR
on her, it being a part of the plan of those who were exercising
all their wits to detect the criminal, that she was first to learn
this fact in open court, and under circumstances likely to elicit
some proofs of guilt. When Dunscomb learned this artifice, he
saw how ungenerous and unmanly it was, readily imagined a
dozen signs of weakness that a female might exhibit in such a
strait, that had no real connection with crime, and felt a strong
disposition to seek an interview, and put the suspected party
on her guard. It was too late for this, however, just then; and he
contented himself, for the moment, with studying such signs
of character and consciousness as his native sagacity and long
experience enabled him to detect.
Although nothing could be more simple or unpretending
than the attire of Mary Monson, it was clearly that of a lady.
Everything about her denoted that station, or origin; though
everything about her, as Dunscomb fancied, also denoted a
desire to bring herself down, as nearly as possible, to the level
of those around her, most probably that she might not attract
particular attention. Our lawyer did not exactly like this slight
proof of management, and wished it were not so apparent. He
could see the hands, feet, figure, hair, and general air of the
female he was so strangely called on to make the subject of his
investigations, but he could not yet see her face. The last was
again covered with a cambric handkerchief, the hand which
held it being ungloved. It was a pretty little American hand;
white, well – proportioned, and delicate. It was clear, that neither its proportions nor its colour had been changed by uses
unsuited to its owner’s sex or years. But it had no ring, in this
age of be – jewelled fingers. It was the left hand, moreover, and
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
the fourth finger, like all the rest, had no ornament, or sign of
matrimony. He inferred from this, that the stranger was unmarried; one of the last things that a wife usually lays aside being her wedding – ring. The foot corresponded with the hand,
and was decidedly the smallest, best – formed, and best – decorated foot in Biberry. John Wilmeter thought it the prettiest
he had ever seen. It was not studiously exhibited, however, but
rested naturally and gracefully in its proper place. The figure
generally, so far as a capacious shawl would allow of its being
seen, was pleasing, graceful, and a little remarkable for accuracy of proportions, as well as of attire.
Once or twice Mrs. Jones spoke to her companion; and it
was when answering some question thus put, that Dunscomb
first got a glimpse of his intended client’s face. The handkerchief was partly removed, and remained so long enough to enable him to make a few brief observations. It was then that
he felt the perfect justice of his friend’s description. It was an
indescribable countenance, in all things but its effect; which
was quite as marked on the lawyer, as it had been on the physician. But the arrival of Dr. Coe put an end to these observations, and drew all eyes on that individual, who was immediately sworn. The customary preliminary questions were put to
this witness, respecting his profession, length of practice, residence, &c., when the examination turned more on the matter
immediately under investigation.
“You see those objects on the table, doctor?” said the coro-
ner. “What do you say they are?” “Ossa hominum, human bones,
much defaced and charred by heat.”
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THE WAYS OF THE HOUR
“Do you find any proof about them of violence committed,
beyond the damage done by fire?” “Certainly. There is the os
frontis of each fractured by a blow; a common blow, as I should
judge.” “What do you mean, sir, by a common blow? An accidental, or an intentional blow?”
“By common blow, I mean that one blow did the damage
to both cranys.”
“Crany? how do you spell that word, doctor? Common
folks get put out by foreign tongues.” “Cranys, in the plural,
sir. We say cranium, for one skull, and crany, for two.”
“I wonder what he would say for numskull?” whispered
John to Michael.
“Yes, sir; I understand you, now. I trust the reporters will
get it right.”
“Oh! they never make any mistakes, especially in legal pro-
ceedings,” quietly remarked Mr. Dunscomb to the doctor. “In
matters of law and the constitution, they are of proof! Talk of
letters on the constitution! What are equal to those that come
to us, hibernally, as one may say, from Washington?”
“Hibernially would be the better word,” answered McBrain,
in the same under tone.
“You ought to know; your grandfather was an Irishman,
Ned. But listen to this examination.”
“And now, Dr. Coe, have the goodness to look at these skel-
etons,” resumed the coroner, “and tell us whether they belong
to man, woman, or child. Whether they are the remains of
adults, or of children.”
“Of adults, certainly. On that point, sir, I conceive there can
be no doubt.” “And as to the sex?”
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
“I should think that is equally clear. I have no doubt that
one are the remains of Peter Goodwin, and the other those of
his wife. Science can distinguish between the sexes, in ordinary cases, I allow; but this is a case in which science is at fault,
for want of facts; and taking all the known circumstances into
consideration, I have no hesitation in saying that, according to
my best judgment, those are the remains of the missing man
and woman man and wife.”
“Am I to understand that you recognize the particular
skeletons by any outward, visible proofs?”
“Yes; there is the stature. Both of the deceased were well
known to me; and I should say, that making the usual allowance for the absence of the musculi, the pellis, and other known
substances
“Doctor, would it be just as agreeable to you to use the
common dialect?” demanded a shrewd – looking farmer, one
of the jury, who appeared equally amused and vexed at this
display of learning.
“Certainly, sircertainly, Mr. Blore; musculi means muscles,
and pellis is the skin. Abstract the muscles and skin, and the
other intermediate substances, from the bones, and the apparent stature would be reduced, as a matter of course. Making
those allowances, I see in those skeletons the remains of Peter
and Dorothy Goodwin. Of the fact, I entertain no manner of
doubt.”
As Dr. Coe was very sincere in what he said, he expressed
himself somewhat earnestly. A great many eyes were turned
trinmphantly towards the stranger who had presumed to intimate that the bones of both the remains were those of women,
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THE WAYS OF THE HOUR
when everybody in and about Biberry knew Peter Goodwin so
well, and knew that his wife, if anything, was the taller of the
two. No one in all that crowd doubted as to the fact, except
McBrain and his friend; and the last doubted altogether on
the faith of the doctor’s science. He had never known him mistaken, though often examined in court, and was aware that the
bar considered him one of the safest and surest witnesses they
could employ in all cases of controverted facts.
Dr. Coe’s examination proceeded.
“Have you a direct knowledge of any of the circumstances
connected with this fire?” demanded the coroner.
“A little, perhaps. I was called to visit a patient about mid-
night, and was obliged to pass directly before the door of
Goodwin’s house. The jury knows that it stood on a retired
road, and that one would not be likely to meet with any person travelling it, so early in the morning. I did pass, however,
two men, who were walking very fast, and in the direction of
Goodwin’s. I could not see their faces, nor did I know them by
their figures and movements. As I see everybody, and know almost everybody, hereabouts, I concluded they were strangers.
About four, I was on my return along the same road, and as my
sulky rose to the top of Windy Hill, I got a view of Goodwin’s
house. The flames were just streaming out of the east end of
the roof, and the little wing on that end of the building, in
which the old folks slept, was in a bright blaze. The other end
was not much injured; and I saw at an upper window the figure of a female she resembled, as well as I could judge by that
light, and at that distance, the young lady now present, and
who is said to have occupied the chamber under the roof, in
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
the old house, for some time past; though I can’t say I have ever
seen her there, unless I saw her then, under the circumstances
mentioned. The old people could not have been as ailing this
spring as was common with them, as I do not remember to
have been stopped by them once. They never were in the habit
of sending for the doctor, but seldom let me go past the door,
without calling me in.”
“Did you see any one beside the figure of the female at the
window?”
“Yes. There were two men beneath that window, and they
appeared to me to be speaking to, or holding some sort of communication with, the female. I saw gestures, and I saw one or
two articles thrown out of the window. My view was only for a
minute; and when I reached the house, a considerable crowd
had collected, and I had no opportunity to observe, particularly in a scene of such confusion.”
“Was the female still at the upper window, when you
reached the house?”
“No. I saw the lady now present standing near the burning
building, and held by a manPeter Davidson, I think it was who
told me she wanted to rush into the house to look for the old
folks.”
“Did you see any efforts of that sort in her?”
“Certainly. She struggled to get away from Peter, and acted
like a person who wished to rush into the burning building.”
“Were the struggles natural or might they not have been
affected?”
“They might. If it was acting, it was good acting. I have seen
as good, however, in my life.”
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THE WAYS OF THE HOUR
The doctor had a meaning manner, that said more than his
words. He spoke very lowso low as not to be audible to those
who sat in the farther parts of the room; which will explain the
perfect indifference to his testimony, that was manifested by
the subject of his remarks. An impression, however, was made
on the jury, which was composed of men much disposed to
push distrust to demonstration.
The coroner now thought it time to spring the principal
mine, which had been carefully preparing during the recess in
the investigation; and he ordered “Mary Monson” to be called
a witness who had been regularly summoned to attend, among
the crowd of persons that had received similar notices.
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CHAPTER IV
My deed’s upon my head! I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeit of my bond.
Shylock.
The eyes of Dunscomb were fastened intently on the fe-
male stranger, as she advanced to the place occupied by the
witnesses. Her features denoted agitation, certainly; but he
saw no traces of guilt. It seemed so improbable, moreover,
that a young woman of her years and appearance should be
guilty of so dark an offence, and that for money, too, that all
the chances were in favour of her innocence. Still, there were
suspicious circumstances, out of all question, connected with
her situation; and he was too much experienced in the strange
and unaccountable ways of crime, not to be slow to form his
conclusions.
The face of Mary Monson was now fully exposed; it being
customary to cause female witnesses to remove their hats, in
order that the jurors may observe their countenances. And
what a countenance it was! Feminine, open, with scarce a trace
of the ordinary passions about it, and illuminated from within,
as we have already intimated. The girl might have been twenty,
though she afterwards stated her age to be a little more than
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THE WAYS OF THE HOUR
twenty – one perhaps the most interesting period of a female’s
existence. The features were not particularly regular, and an
artist might have discovered various drawbacks on her beauty,
if not positive defects; but no earthly being could have quarrelled with the expression. That was a mixture of intelligence,
softness, spirit, and feminine innocence, that did not fail to
produce an impression on a crowd which had almost settled
down into a firm conviction of her guilt. Some even doubted,
and most of those present thought it very strange.
The reporters began to write, casting their eyes eagerly to-
wards this witness; and John Dunscomb, who sat near them,
soon discovered that there were material discrepancies in
their descriptions. These, however, were amicably settled by
comparing notes; and when the accounts of that day’s examination appeared in the journals of the time, they were sufficiently consistent with each other; much more so, indeed, than
with the truth in its severer aspects. There was no wish to mislead, probably; but the whole system has the capital defect of
making a trade of news. The history of passing events comes to
us sufficiently clouded and obscured by the most vulgar and
least praiseworthy of all our lesser infirmities, even when left
to take what may be termed its natural course; but, as soon as
the money – getting principle is applied to it, facts become
articles for the market, and go up and down, much as do other
commodities, in the regular prices – current.
Mary Monson trembled a little when sworn; but she had
evidently braced her nerves for the trial. Women are very capable of self – command, even in situations as foreign to their
habits as this, if they have time to compose themselves, and to
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JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
come forward under the influence of resolutions deliberately
formed. Such was probably the state of mind of this solitary
and seemingly unfriended young woman; for, though pale as
death, she was apparently composed. We say unfriended Mrs.
Jones, herself, having given all her friends to understand that
she had invited the stranger to her house under a sense of general duty, and not on account of any private or particular interest she felt in her affairs. She was as much a stranger to her,
as to every one else in the village.
“Will you be so good as to tell us your name, place of ordi-
nary residence, and usual occupation?” asked the coroner, in a
dry, cold manner, though not until he had offered the witness
a seat, in compliment to her sex.
If the face of Mary Monson was pale the instant before, it
now flushed to scarlet. The tint that appears in the August evening sky, when heat – lightning illuminates the horizon, is
scarce more bright than that which chased the previous pallid hue from her cheeks. Dunscomb understood her dilemma,
and interposed. She was equally unwilling to tell her real
name, and to give a false one, under the solemn responsibility of an oath. There is, probably, less of deliberate, calculated
false – swearing, than of any other offence against justice; few
having the nerve, or the moral obtuseness, that is necessary to
perjury. We do not mean by this, that all which legal witnesses
say is true, or the half of it; for ignorance, dull imaginations
working out solutions of half – comprehended propositions,
and the strong propensity we all feel to see things as we have
expected to find them, in a measure disqualifies fully half of
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