Франкенштейн
Chapter 8
Thetrialbegan,andaftertheadvocateagainstherhadstatedthecharge,severalwitnesseswerecalled.Severalstrangefactscombinedagainsther,whichmighthavestaggeredanyonewhohadnotsuchproofofherinnocenceasIhad.Shehadbeenoutthewholeofthenightonwhichthemurderhadbeencommittedandtowardsmorninghadbeenperceivedbyamarket-womannotfarfromthespotwherethebodyofthemurderedchildhadbeenafterwardsfound.Thewomanaskedherwhatshedidthere,butshelookedverystrangelyandonlyreturnedaconfusedandunintelligibleanswer.Shereturnedtothehouseabouteighto’clock,andwhenoneinquiredwhereshehadpassedthenight,sherepliedthatshehadbeenlookingforthechildanddemandedearnestlyifanythinghadbeenheardconcerninghim.Whenshownthebody,shefellintoviolenthystericsandkeptherbedforseveraldays.Thepicturewasthenproducedwhichtheservanthadfoundinherpocket;andwhenElizabeth,inafalteringvoice,provedthatitwasthesamewhich,anhourbeforethechildhadbeenmissed,shehadplacedroundhisneck,amurmurofhorrorandindignationfilledthecourt.
Justinewascalledonforherdefence.Asthetrialhadproceeded,hercountenancehadaltered.Surprise,horror,andmiserywerestronglyexpressed.Sometimesshestruggledwithhertears,butwhenshewasdesiredtoplead,shecollectedherpowersandspokeinanaudiblealthoughvariablevoice.
"Godknows,"shesaid,"howentirelyIaminnocent.ButIdonotpretendthatmyprotestationsshouldacquitme;Irestmyinnocenceonaplainandsimpleexplanationofthefactswhichhavebeenadducedagainstme,andIhopethecharacterIhavealwaysbornewillinclinemyjudgestoafavourableinterpretationwhereanycircumstanceappearsdoubtfulorsuspicious."
