the country where
the Siren's was a familiar voice I was thought dead."

{Kate.} Dead. I see.

{Dormer.} _(continuing)_ "When I recovered, my
sweet voice and pretty face had gone from me forever.
I had nothing but a mad loathing for the man
whom I had never loved, and I formed a plan to
ruin him."

{Kate.} Oh!

{Dormer.} _(continuing)_ "I took a new name and
fostered the report of my death, saying to myself,
'He will love and marry again, and then I, the
wreck of what I have been, will come back to life
and destroy his peace,'"

_(Eric disappears.)_

{Kate.} Not a woman--not a woman!

{Dormer.} _(continuing)_ "But in time my heart
softened and my hate died away. My conscience
won't let me rest, and now, when remorse has broken
me, I drag myself to where Eric is, to learn what
evil I have caused. If there be any wrong, it is I
that have worked it--not my deceived husband, whom
I have not the courage to face." Signed "Mathilde."

{Kate.} Is that all?

{Dormer.} _(pocketing paper)_ That is all. _(Kate
rises)_

{Kate.} How comes this--creature to know of the
existence of the woman who loves Eric Thorndyke?

{Dormer.} She asked me if I thought such a woman
existed. I replied, yes. "Then," said she, "whoever
this woman is, and wherever she may be, carry
my warning to her before it is too late." _(puts paper
away and goes to sofa L.)_

_(Kate struggles with herself for a moment; her
manner becomes completely changed.)_

{Kate.} _(lightly)_ Ah, thank you, Parson Dormer,
for your goodness, and for your cold journey. May
I give you some wine?

{Dormer.} No. _(he resumes his cape and gloves,
then holds out his hand to Kate)_ Good-night, _(she
takes his hand)_ Don't come down, I can find my way
out. _(looking round)_ I used to quarrel here with
your father.

{Kate.} Good-night. I shall look for you to-morrow
at our harvest supper--it is the happiest night in
our year, _(screams and falls back, Dormer catches
her--he is going--she clutches his sleeve)_ Parson!
Parson! look! _(she points to the written confession
which lies upon the floor)_ Don't leave me alone with
that!

{Dormer.} That--what?

{Kate.} That. Take it away with you--take it
away!