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248 'No, I hadn't; I was housemaid at Orley Farm.'

'Were you upper or under there?'

'Well, I believe I was both; that is, the cook was upper in the house.'

'Oh, the cook was upper. Why wasn't she called to sign her name?'

'That I can't say. She was a very decent woman,—that I can say,—and her name was Martha Mullens.'

So far Mr. Chaffanbrass had not done much; but that was only the preliminary skirmish, as fencers play with their foils before they begin.

'And now, Bridget Bolster, if I understand you,' he said, 'you have sworn that on the 14th of July you only signed one of these documents.'

'I only signed once, sir. I didn't say nothing about the 14th of July, because I don't remember.'

'But when you signed the one deed, you did not sign any other?'

'Neither then nor never.'

'Do you know the offence for which that lady is being tried—Lady Mason?'

'Well, I ain't sure; it's for doing something about the will.'

'No, woman, it is not.' And then, as Mr. Chaffanbrass raised his voice, and spoke with savage earnestness, Bridget again started, and gave a little leap up from the floor. But she soon settled herself back in her old position. 'No one has dared to accuse her of that,' continued Mr. Chaffanbrass, looking over at the lawyers on the other side. 'The charge they have brought forward against her is that of perjury—of having given false evidence twenty years ago in a court of law. Now look here, Bridget Bolster; look at me, I say.' She did look at him for a moment, and then turned her eyes back to the canopy. 'As sure as you're a living woman, you shall be placed there and tried for the same offence,—for perjury,—if you tell me a falsehood respecting this matter.'

'I won't say nothing but what's right,' said Bridget.

'You had better not. Now look at these two signatures;' and he handed to her two deeds, or rather made one of the servants of the court hold them for him; 'which of those signatures is the one which you did not sign?'

'I can't say, sir.'

'Did you write that further one,—that with your hand on it?'

'I can't say, sir.'

'Look at it, woman, before you answer me.'

Bridget looked at it, and then repeated the same words—

'I can't say, sir.'

'And now look at the other.' And she again looked down for a moment. 'Did you write that?'