Explore "Queen of Hearts" by Fred M. White on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Unobserved by the rest, Maudie slipped her hand into that of Tom and smiled up into his face with a glance that there was no mistaking. It was an expression he had hoped to see there many times before, and now he knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that all Maudie's worldly wisdom had been no more than a shield between herself and her affection for him. He stepped forward to give his evidence with his head high and an assurance that two people at least, believed in his innocence.
So far the police had not taken a hand in the proceedings. They were quite content, for the present, to leave it to the Coroner. Later on, perhaps, the law would have its say, but, for the moment, it was a matter of formalities.