mediate past. Lilla's hand was still in
hers, and to her surprise it was still warm. Somehow this helped her
consciousness, and without any special act of will she stood up. She lit
a lamp and looked at her cousin. There was no doubt that Lilla was dead;
but when the lamp-light fell on her eyes, they seemed to look at Mimi
with intent--with meaning. In this state of dark isolation a new
resolution came to her, and grew and grew until it became a fixed
definite purpose. She would face Caswall and call him to account for his
murder of Lilla--that was what she called it to herself. She would also
take steps--she knew not what or how--to avenge the part taken by Lady
Arabella.

In this frame of mind she lit all the lamps in the room, got water and
linen from her room, and set about the decent ordering of Lilla's body.
This took some time; but when it was finished, she put on her hat and
cloak, put out the lights, and set out quietly for Castra Regis.

As Mimi drew near the Castle, she saw no lights except those in and
around the tower room. The lights showed her that Mr. Caswall was there,
so she entered by the hall door, which as usual was open, and felt her
way in the darkness up the staircase to the lobby of the room. The door
was ajar, and the light from within showed brilliantly through the
opening. She saw Edgar Caswall walking restlessly to and fro in the
room, with his hands clasped behind his back. She opened the door
without knocking, and walked right into the room. As she entered, he
ceased walking, and stared at her in surprise. She made no remark, no
comment, but continued the fixed look which he had seen on her entrance.

For a time silence reigned, and the two stood looking fixedly at each
other. Mimi was the first to speak.

"You murderer! Lilla is dead!"

"Dead! Good God! When did she die?"

"She died this afternoon, just after you left her."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes--and so are you--or you ought to be. You killed her!"

"I killed her! Be careful what you say!"

"As God sees us, it is true; and you know it. You came to Mercy Farm on
purpose to break her--if you could. And the accomplice of your guilt,
Lady Arabella March, came for the same purpose."

"Be careful, woman," he said hotly. "Do not use such names in that way,
or you shall suffer for it."

"I am suffering for it--have suffered for it--shall suffer for it. Not
for speaking the truth as I have done, but because yo