he does not know his
baseness--she will plunge that dagger into his heart.

Poor child! poor child! she who used to cry to have the fish put back
into the water--who never willingly killed the smallest living
thing--dreams now, in the madness of her passion, that she can kill the
man whose very voice unnerves her.

But what is that lying among the dank leaves on the path three yards
before her?

Good God! it is he--lying motionless--his hat fallen off. He is ill,
then--he has fainted. Her hand lets go the dagger, and she rushes towards
him. His eyes are fixed; he does not see her. She sinks down on her
knees, takes the dear head in her arms, and kisses the cold forehead.

'Anthony, Anthony! speak to me--it is Tina--speak to me! O God, he is
dead!'

Chapter 14

'Yes, Maynard,' said Sir Christopher, chatting with Mr. Gilfil in the
library, 'it really is a remarkable thing that I never in my life laid a
plan, and failed to carry it out. I lay my plans well, and I never swerve
from them--that's it. A strong will is the only magic. And next to
striking out one's plans, the pleasantest thing in the world is to see
them well accomplished. This year, now, will be the happiest of my life,
all but the year '53, when I came into possession of the Manor, and
married Henrietta. The last touch is given to the old house; Anthony's
marriage--the thing I had nearest my heart--is settled to my entire
satisfaction; and by-and-by you will be buying a little wedding-ring for
Tina's finger. Don't shake your head in that forlorn way;--when I make
prophecies they generally come to pass. But there's a quarter after
twelve striking. I must be riding to the High Ash to meet Markham about
felling some timber. My old oaks will have to groan for this wedding,
but'--

The door burst open, and Caterina, ghastly and panting, her eyes
distended with terror, rushed in, threw her arms round Sir Christopher's
neck, and gasping out--'Anthony ... the Rookery ... dead ... in the
Rookery', fell fainting on the floor.

In a moment Sir Christopher was out of the room, and Mr. Gilfil was
bending to raise Caterina in his arms. As he lifted her from the ground
he felt something hard and heavy in her pocket. What could it be? The
weight of it would be enough to hurt her as she lay. He carried her to
the sofa, put his hand in her pocket, and drew forth the dagger.

Maynard shuddered. Did she mean to kill herself, then, or ... or ... a
horrible sus