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 had been restored to composure by the strong remedies Elizabeth administered. "Promise not to tell that I ever knew of it," she pleaded. "Swear! I'll kill myself if you don't!" "I have promised," returned Elizabeth, in a hollow voice. "I will bear whatever comes--ruin, death--and bear it alone, you shall not be dragged in." These words, so solemnly spoken, appeared to give the girl new life and energy. "Go downstairs," she said; "stop them. You can stop them yet." "How--what can I say?" "Tell Grant that the gardener said the tree must be left till spring--bribe old Jarvis to say so--oh, anything, anything; only try, Elizabeth. Save yourself if possible." The woman walked to the window and looked out. "They are going," she said. "Go down!" shrieked Elsie. "Go down, I say!" Elizabeth took a few steps towards the door--caught sight of her face in the mirror, and stopped appalled at the haggard image reflected there. "Look at me," she said; "my face tells the whole story." "There is some rouge in that drawer," said Elsie. "Mrs. Harrington left it. I'll put it on your cheeks." Elsie could think, now that Elizabeth showed herself ready to bear her danger alone. She got out the rouge, rubbed it on her sister's cheeks, and smoothed her hair. "Now you look like yourself--nobody would notice. Go quick--stop them--stop them!" CHAPTER LII. WOODMAN, SPARE THAT TREE. Elizabeth dared not pause an instant for reflection; she opened the door, walked downstairs, through the library, and joined her husband on the lawn. He turned at her approach. She felt a mad sort of courage nerve her--she could speak now.