Part 9 (2/2)

Did you ever say anything of it to Miss Blandy?--No, I did not.

Pray, what conversation pa.s.sed between her father and her down upon her knees, &c.?--She said, ”Sir, how do you do?” He said, ”I am very ill.”

Was anything said about Mr. Cranstoun's addresses to her?--Yes, there was. That conversation was occasioned by a message that Mr. Blandy had sent to his daughter by me on Monday morning.

What was that message?--That he was ready to forgive her if she would but endeavour to bring that villain to justice.

Did she say with what intent the powder was given to her?--She said it was given her with another intent.

Did she say upon what intent?--She did not say that. He did not ask that.

Was not that explained?--It was no ways explained.

Did he treat her as if she herself was innocent?--He did, sir.

Then all he said afterwards was as thinking his daughter very innocent?--It was, sir.

As to the ruin of his daughter, did he think it was entirely owing to Cranstoun?--Mr. Blandy said he believed his daughter entirely innocent of what had happened.

By what he said to you, do you think that the father thought his daughter was imposed upon by Cranstoun when he used that expression, ”She must hate the man,” &c.?--I do think so; he said, ”Where is Polly?” I answered, ”In her room.” He said, ”Poor, unfortunate girl!

That ever she should be imposed upon and led away by such a villain to do such a thing!”

Do you imagine, from the whole conversation that pa.s.sed between her father and her, that she was entirely innocent of the fact of the powder being given?--I do not think so; she said she was innocent.

What was your opinion? Did the father think her wholly unacquainted with the effect of the powder?--I believe he thought so; that is as much as I can say.

When you told Miss Blandy that the washerwoman was extremely ill, having ate some water gruel, was anything more said with relation to the father's having ate some of the same water gruel before?--I don't remember there was a word said about the father's having ate any of it.

During the time of his illness was not Miss Blandy's behaviour to her father with as much care and tenderness as any daughter could show?--She seemed to direct everything as she could have done for herself, or any other person that was sick.

Do you know that she was guilty of any neglect in this respect?--No, I do not, sir.

KING'S COUNSEL--What did he mean when he said, ”Poor, unfortunate girl! That ever she should be imposed upon and led away by such a villain to do such a thing!” What do you imagine he meant by such a thing?--By giving him that which she did not know what it was.

COURT--When she told you that water gruel would serve for her father on the Wednesday did she know that her father had been ill by taking water gruel on the Monday and Tuesday nights?--She knew he was ill, but I cannot tell whether she knew the cause of it; and knew that the charwoman was ill before she proposed my giving him the same gruel, but did not oppose my making fresh for any other reason than that it would hinder my ironing.

[Sidenote: E. Binfield]

ELIZABETH BINFIELD, examined--I was a servant to Mr. Francis Blandy at Henley, and had been almost three years.

When did you first discover his illness and hear him complain of unusual p.r.i.c.kings in has stomach?--About a fortnight before he died.

Did you ever hear Miss Blandy talk of something in the house which she said presaged his death, or something like it?--I have often heard her talk of walkings and music in the house that she had heard. She said she thought it to be her mother, saying the music foretold her father's death.

Whom has she said so to?--She has told me so.

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