"Do you think it is right for a lawyer to defend a man he knows to be guilty?"
"There's something to be said even for the guilty," said Hilary after a moment.
"As I understand it, they can't try to deny that he committed the murder, they can only plead extenuating circumstances."
"That means, try to justify it!... Do you believe in that?"
"I don't know all the circumstances.... But the law distinguishes--if it is done in the heat of passion, it may be called manslaughter--not murder."
"Well, I should think murder was murder, however it was done!... And as to circumstances, you know Mrs. Barclay was a good woman, a member of your church, you know what a hard time she had, especially after _he_ came home, and now her children are left worse than orphans--I don't see how you can say that 'circumstances' make any difference!"
She stood straight, her eyes flashing reproach at him.
"Well, if anybody is hanged, _he_ ought to be! So long as we have laws to punish criminals--"
"You stand up for the woman always, Mary," said Hilary, smiling faintly.
"And you--you and Laurence--it seems to me very queer that you two should be standing up for that man! Yesterday--risking your life for him--now I think it's very strange."
"That wasn't so much for him," said Hilary slowly. "It was to prevent another murder, that's all--to keep them from doing what he'd done."
He shut his eyes wearily, and Mary softened.
"I oughtn't to talk to you about it now. You must be quiet. I'll go now, and you must promise me to go to bed and not get up till the fever's gone. Will you?"
She sat down again beside him, and he lay still with his eyes closed.
"Did you go to see the children today?" he asked after a pause.
"Yes, I stopped in. They were playing in the yard--they're so little, you know, they don't realize anything--except perhaps the girl. I wanted to take one of them, but Mrs. Peters said she thought they were better off together."
"Yes, I should think so.... We'll have to find homes for them, though, and it isn't likely they can be together long."
"I know. Mrs. Peters said she would keep one of them--and I could take one. I'm sure Laurence would think that right, as he is so much interested in--the father."
Mary's face and tone expressed a sudden repugnance. Hilary half-opened his eyes and looked at her.