The imminence of the danger made her at last feel quiet and steady. She took up the lighted candle and went into the dairy--she unlocked the cupboard in the wall and took out the bottle of laudanum. Returning to the kitchen she emptied the contents of the bottle into the range and then threw the bottle itself also into the heart of the fire--she watched it as it slowly melted under the influence of the hot fire--the laudanum itself was also licked up by the hungry flames. That tell-tale and awful evidence of her guilt was at least removed. She forgot all about Susan having seen the liquid in the morning--she knew nothing about the evidence which would be brought to light at a coroner's inquest--about the facts which a doctor would be sure to give. Nothing but the bare reality remained prominently before her excited brain. Vincent was dead--she had killed him by an overdose of laudanum which she had given him in all innocence to make him sleep--but yet, yet in her heart of hearts, she knew that her motive would not bear explanation. "Squire will save me," she said to herself--"if it's proved that I were with Squire I am safe. I'll go to him now--I'll tell 'im all at once. It's late, very late, and it's dark outside, but I'll go." Hetty left the room, leaving the dog behind her--he uttered a frightful howl when she did so and followed her as far as the door--she shut and locked the door--he scratched at it to try and release himself, but Hetty took no notice--she was cruel as regarded the dumb beast's fear in her own agony and terror. She ran upstairs to her room, put on her hat and jacket, and went out. Stumbling and trembling, she went along the road until she reached the summit of the hill which led straight down in a gentle slope toward Grandcourt. She was glad the ground sloped downward, for it was important that she should quicken her footsteps in order to see the Squire with as little delay as possible. She was quite oblivious of the lapse of time since her last visit, and hoped he might still be in the office. She resolved to try the office first. If he were not there she would go on to the house--find him she must; nothing should keep her from his presence to-night. She presently reached Grandcourt, entered the grounds by a side entrance and pursued her way through the darkness. The sky overhead was cloudy, neither moon nor stars were visible. Faltering and falling she pressed forward, and by and by reached the neighborhood of the office. She saw a light burning dimly behind the closed blinds--her heart beat with a sense of thankfulness--she staggered up to the door, brushing her dress against the door as she did so--she put up her hand and knocked feebly. The next instant the door was opened to her--a man, a total stranger, confronted her, but behind him she saw Awdrey. She tottered into the room.