Mrs. Blair spoke with no preface. "I am going to leave Alton," she said in her severe voice, "and I want to tell you something first, and to say good-by." She looked at Gordon, then at the others, one after another, then at Gordon again. "I did not think at first that it would be necessary for me to say what I am going to," she continued, "but I overheard some things that were said that night, and I have been thinking--and then I heard the other day (I don't know how true it is) that Clemency and Doctor Elliot had had a falling out, and I didn't know but--I didn't quite know what anybody thought, and I wanted you all to know the truth. I didn't want any mistakes made to cause unhappiness." She hesitated, her eyes upon Doctor Gordon grew more intense. "Maybe _you_ think you gave her that dose of morphine that killed her," she said steadily, "but you didn't. Doctor Elliot gave her water, and you gave her mostly water. I had diluted the morphine, and you didn't know it. I had made up my mind that she was going to have the morphine, but I had made up my mind that nobody but me should have the responsibility of it. I'm all alone in the world, and my conscience upheld me, and I felt I'd rather take the blame, if there was to be any. I made up my mind to wait till a certain time and then give it to her, and I did. I am the one who gave her the morphine that killed her. I am going to leave Alton for good. My trunk is down at the station. I came to tell you that I gave her the morphine, and if I did wrong in helping God to shorten her sufferings, I am the one to be punished, and I stand ready to bear the punishment." Gordon looked at her. He did not speak, but it was with his face as if a mask of dreadful misery had dropped from it. "Good-by!" said Mrs. Blair. She went out of the door, and the black tuft on her bonnet barely grazed the lintel. THE END OTHER WORKS BY MARY E. WILKINS-FREEMAN THE HUMBLE ROMANCE and Other Stories Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25 "A collection of stories of New England life as clearly cut as etchings, marvellous in simplicity and finish." JANE FIELD: A Novel Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25 "A tragedy told in a few words, moving with the unswerving directness of a Greek play. The novel is lightened by a delicate love interest and touches of homely humor." THE NEW ENGLAND NUN AND OTHER STORIES 16mo. Cloth, $1.25 "Stories of New England village life, the best hitherto written by this author, surpassing those contained in the collection entitled 'The Humble Romance.'" SILENCE AND OTHER STORIES Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25 "A book like this marks an epoch. It is more important than a change of administration."--FROM AN ENGLISH REVIEW. THE LOVE OF PARSON LORD AND OTHER STORIES Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25 PEMBROKE: A Novel Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.50 "The greatest American novel since 'The Scarlet Letter.'"--FROM ENGLISH REVIEW. JEROME: A POOR MAN. A Novel Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.50 MADELON: A Novel Post 8vo. Cloth, $1.25