“Thank you, Judy.  I am sure I should ask you if there were anything you could do for me.  But you’ll be left behind.”

“No fear of that.  My Dobbin can go much faster than their big horses.  But I see you don’t want me, so good-bye.”

She turned her pony’s head as she spoke, jumped the ditch at the side of the road, and flew after them along the grass like a swallow.  I likewise roused my horse and went off at a hard trot, with the vain impulse so to shake off the tormenting thoughts that crowded on me like gadflies.  But this day was to be one of more trial still.

As I turned a corner, almost into the street of the village, Tom Weir was at my side.  He had evidently been watching for me.  His face was so pale, that I saw in a moment something had happened.

“What is the matter, Tom?” I asked, in some alarm.

He did not reply for a moment, but kept unconsciously stroking my horse’s neck, and staring at me “with wide blue eyes.”

“Come, Tom,” I repeated, “tell me what is the matter.”

I could see his bare throat knot and relax, like the motion of a serpent, before he could utter the words.

“Kate has killed her little boy, sir.”

He followed them with a stifled cry—­almost a scream, and hid his face in his hands.

“God forbid!” I exclaimed, and struck my heels in my horse’s sides, nearly overturning poor Tom in my haste.

“She’s mad, sir; she’s mad,” he cried, as I rode off.

“Come after me,” I said, “and take the mare home.  I shan’t be able to leave your sister.”

Had I had a share, by my harsh words, in driving the woman beyond the bounds of human reason and endurance?  The thought was dreadful.  But I must not let my mind rest on it now, lest I should be unfitted for what might have to be done.  Before I reached the door, I saw a little crowd of the villagers, mostly women and children, gathered about it.  I got off my horse, and gave him to a woman to hold till Tom should come up.  With a little difficulty, I prevailed on the rest to go home at once, and not add to the confusions and terrors of the unhappy affair by the excitement of their presence.  As soon as they had yielded to my arguments, I entered the shop, which to my annoyance I found full of the neighbours.  These likewise I got rid of as soon as possible, and locking the door behind them, went up to the room above.

To my surprise, I found no one there.  On the hearth and in the fender lay two little pools of blood.  All in the house was utterly still.  It was very dreadful.  I went to the only other door.  It was not bolted as I had expected to find it.  I opened it, peeped in, and entered.  On the bed lay the mother, white as death, but with her black eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling:  and on her arm lay little Gerard, as white, except where the blood had flowed from the bandage that could not confine it, down his sweet deathlike face.  His eyes were fast closed, and he had no sign of life about him.  I shut the door behind me, and approached the bed.  When Catherine caught sight of me, she showed no surprise or emotion of any kind.  Her lips, with automaton-like movement, uttered the words—­