g, sniggering, chuckling, spluttering with indecent
mirth.

"Listen to me, madam," he said at last, leaning forward. "Behind my back
you've always called me a skinflint, a miser, a villain. I always told
you I'd pay you out some day--and now's my chance. I'm not going to lose
anything. I'm going to leave you to your own conscience and to the
guidance of your virtuous sky-pilot. People'll believe anything of a
clergyman's son. They're a bad lot as a rule, but your boy was not; he
was only a fool. But he was my heir. I'd left him everything in my
will."

"Father, you always declared that--"

"Never mind what I declared. It wasn't safe to trust you with the
knowledge while he lived. You would have poisoned me."

"Father, your insults are beyond all endurance!" she cried, writhing
under the lash and stung to fury. She started up with hands clenched.

"There, there, I told you so!" he whined, recoiling in mock terror.
"Trimmer, Trimmer! Help! She'll kill me!"

"It would serve you right if I did lay violent hands upon you," she
cried. "If I took you by the throat, and squeezed the life out of you, as
I could, though you are my father. You're not a man, you're a beast--a
monster--a soulless caricature, whose only delight is the torturing of
others. I could have been a good woman and a good daughter, but for your
carping, sneering insults. At different times, you have imputed to me
every vile motive that suggested itself to your evil brain. You hated me
from my birth. You hate me still--and I hate you. Yes, it would serve
you right if I killed you. It would separate you from your wretched
money, and send your soul to torment--"

"Trimmer! Trimmer!" screamed the old man, as she advanced nearer with
threatening gestures, and fingers working nervously.

Trimmer entered as noiselessly as a cat.

"Trimmer, save me from this woman--she'll kill me. I'm an old man! I'm
helpless. She's threatening to choke me. Have her put out. I can't
protect myself, or I'd--I'd have her prosecuted--the vampire!"

Mrs. Swinton recovered herself in the presence of Trimmer, and drew away
in contempt. She flung back the chair upon which she had been sitting
with an angry movement, and she would have liked to sweep out of the
room; but fear seized her at the thought of what she had done. This was
not the way to mollify the old man, who could ruin her by a word.

"I am sorry, father," she faltered. "I forgot that you are an invalid,
and not res