Gathered In by Catherine Helen Spence — Read

When Kenneth, after dispatching the telegram to Castle Diarmid, returned with his uncle to Tingalpa, they were accompanied by Hugh Carmichael, who had apparently taken up his quarters there. The discharged prisoner was a little doubtful of his reception by his aunt, who had never thoroughly exonerated him in her mind, although she had also all along thirsted for vengeance on Ellerton.

But when Mr. Oswald told of his honourable acquittal by the Jury, and the universal satisfaction which the verdict had given; that not only had there been the strongest evidence to show that Ellerton both could and would have committed the crime; but that there has been an alibi proved which was incontestable, Mrs. Oswald gave way. The circumstance that the alibi had been proved entirely through the watch she had given to poor Jim in spite of Mr. Oswald's refusal, redounded greatly to her credit. Mr. Oswald was tempted to say that if Jim had worn his old watch which was loose in the case, the water would have got in at once, and the alibi could have been proved at the Coroner's inquest, and two months of imprisonment and anxiety spared. But he wisely refrained, and allowed Mrs. Oswald to believe that she had been largely instrumental in his nephew's acquittal.