t
grandchild of yours has touched your flinty 'art. But where will _you_
be when she learns----?

_Lady B._ (_in agony_). Ah, no, MONKSHOOD, good, faithful MONKSHOOD, she
must never know that! Think, MONKSHOOD, you would not tell her that the
Grandmother to whom she looks up with such touching, childlike love, was
a--_homicide_--you would not do that?

_Monks._ Some would say even 'omicide was not too black a name for all
you've done. (Lady BELLEDAME _shudders_.) I might tell Miss ELFIE how
you've blowed up a live Baronet, corrosive sublimated a gentle Lady,
honly for 'aving, in a moment of candour, called you a hold cat, and
distributed pison in a variety of forms about this smiling village; and,
if that don't inspire her with distrust, I don't know the nature of
children, that's all! I might tell her, I say, and, if I'm to keep my
mouth shut, I shall expect it to be considered in my wages.

_Lady B._ I knew you had a good heart! I will pay you
anything--anything, provided you shield my guilt from her ... wait, you
shall have gold, gold, MONKSHOOD, gold!

[_Chord. Little_ ELFIE _suddenly comes from behind screen; limelight on
her. The other two shrink back._

_Elfie._ Do not give that bad old man money, Grandmother,--for it will
only be wasted.

_Lady B._ Speak, child--how much do you know?

_Elfie._ All!

[_Chord._ Lady B. _collapses on chair._

_Lady B._ (_with an effort_). And now, ELFIE, that you know, you scorn
and hate your poor old Grandmother--is it not so?

_Elfie._ It is wrong to hate one's Grandmother, whatever she does. At
first, when I heard, I was very, very sorry. I _did_ think it was most
unkind of you. But now, oh, I _can't_ believe that you had not some
good, wise motive, in acting as you did!

_Lady B._ (_in conscience-stricken aside_). Even _this_ cannot shatter
her artless faith ... Oh, wretch, wretch!

[_Covers her face._

_Monks._ Motive--I believe you there, Missie. Why, she went and insured
all their lives aforehand, _she_ did.

_Lady B._ MONKSHOOD, in pity hold your peace!

_Elfie_ (_her face beaming_). I knew it--I was sure of it! Oh, Granny,
my dear, kind old Granny, you insured their lives first, so that no real
harm could possibly happen to them--oh, I am so happy!

_Lady B._ (_aside_). What shall I say? Merciful Powers, what _shall_ I
say to her?

[_Disturbed sounds without._

_Monks._ I don't know what you'd better _say_, but I can tell you what
your Ladyship had