B. at the brawl.
The magistrate had no alternative but that of acquiescing in the
proof of her innocence; so he dismissed the charge against the
accused, who stood down from among the rest, radiant with
satisfaction. The other defendants were duly [97] convicted, and
sentenced to a term of imprisonment with hard labour. All this was
quite correct; but here comes matter for consideration with regard to
the immaculate dispensation of justice as vaunted so confidently by
Mr. Froude.
On receiving their sentence the women all stood down from the dock,
to be escorted to prison, except "Lady," who, by the way, had
preserved a rigid silence, while some of the other defendants had
voluntarily and, it may be added, generously protested that L. B.
was not present on the occasion of this particular row. "Lady,"
whether out of affection or from a less respectable motive, cried out
to the stipendiary justice. "But, sir, it ain't fair. How is it
every time that L. B. and me come up before you, you either fine or
send up the two of us together, and to-day you are sending me up
alone?" Moved either by the logic or the pathos of this objurgation,
the magistrate, turning towards L.
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