and gave way to a
violent nervous spasm, but this time Elizabeth made no effort to soothe
her; she stood there, cold and white, repeating at intervals, in that
dismal whisper:

"It has come at last! It has come at last!"

"Do something," sobbed Elsie. "Don't stand there as if you were turning
to stone. Think of some way to stop them."

"What can I do?" returned Elizabeth. "I tell you it has come! I knew it,
I have been expecting it!"

Elsie gave another shriek, sprang off the sofa, threw herself at her
sister's feet, clutching her dress with both hands, and cried out:

"Do something--anything! I shall go crazy--my brain is burning! I won't
live--I tell you I won't live if you don't stop this."

Elizabeth shook off her grasp, not angrily, not impatiently even, but
with a sudden change of expression, as if Elsie's despair had brought
back some half-forgotten resolution, and given her wild strength once
more.

"You will not suffer," she said, drearily. "You are safe."

"But you--what will become of you?" groaned the girl.

"Let go my dress--get up, Elsie! See, I am calm. I tell you, no harm
will come to you--get up."

Elsie staggered to her feet, and sat down on the sofa with a burst of
tears.

"I'd rather kill myself than see you tormented so!" she cried. "I have
the poison yet--I've always kept it. If they don't stop, Elizabeth, they
shall find us dead and cold----"

"Stop!" said Elizabeth. "I won't hear such wicked words! The danger is
mine, the ruin and disgrace are mine--all mine; but I do not talk of
killing myself."

"You are so brave," moaned Elsie, "and I am such a poor, weak thing. Oh,
oh! This will kill me either way, I know it will!"

"I know what will happen to me," said Elizabeth, in a voice of unnatural
calmness. "Do you know what this day will bring? Before two hours are
gone I shall be driven out of this house, a lost, ruined woman."

"No, no! Grant will forgive you--he loves you so!"

"Does a man ever forgive a wrong like that?"

"But you will say you don't know--I will."

"Are you a baby? Don't you know there will be an exposure--we shall all
be questioned--forced to give evidence."

"We will say anything--anything!" cried Elsie.

"We cannot satisfy Grantley Mellen. I tell you, Elsie, this is the last
interview we shall ever hold under this roof."

Elsie threw herself down in renewed anguish, shrieking and sobbing so
violently that nothing could be done or thought of till she