"'Then you have nothing more to fear,' says I. 'Give me that handkerchief off your neck.' She gave it without a word. I threw myself upon the body of the housekeeper,--and planting my knee on her breast, I tied the handkerchief round her throat in a single tie, giving Grace one end to hold, while I drew the other tight enough to finish my terrible work. Her eyes literally started from her head, she gave one groan, and all was over. I then cut the body in four pieces, and turned a large washtub over them. "'Now, Grace, you may come up and get my breakfast.' "Yes, Mr. M---. You will not perhaps believe me, yet I assure you that we went upstairs and ate a good breakfast; and I laughed with Grace at the consternation the captain would be in when he found that Hannah was absent. "During the morning a pedlar called, who travelled the country with second-hand articles of clothing, taking farm produce in exchange for his wares. I bought of him two good linen-breasted shirts, which had been stolen from some gentleman by his housekeeper. While I was chatting with the pedlar, I remarked that Grace had left the house, and I saw her through the kitchen-window talking to a young lad by the well, who often came across to borrow an old gun from my master to shoot ducks. I called to her to come in, which she appeared to me to do very reluctantly. I felt that I was in her power, and I was horribly afraid of her betraying me in order to save her own and the captain's life. I now hated her from my very soul, and could have killed her without the least pity or remorse. "'What do you want, Macdermot!' she said sullenly. "'I want you. I dare not trust you out of my sight. I know what you are,--you are plotting mischief against me; but if you betray me I will be revenged; if I have to follow you to--for that purpose.' "'Why do you doubt my word, Macdermot? Do you think I want to hang myself?' "'No, not yourself, but me. You are too bad to be trusted. What were you saying just now to that boy?' "'I told him that the captain was not at home, and I dared not lend him the gun.' "'You were right. The gun will be wanted at home.'. "She shuddered and turned away. It seems that she had had enough of blood, and shewed some feeling at last. I kept my eye upon her, and would not suffer her for a moment out of my sight. "At noon the captain drove into the yard, and I went out to take the horse. Before he had time to alight, he asked for Hannah. I told him that she was out, that she went off the day before, and had not returned, but that we expected her in every minute. "He was very much annoyed, and said that she had no business to leave the house during his absence,--that he would give her a good rating when she came home. "Grace asked if she should get his breakfast? "He said, 'He wanted none. He would wait till Hannah came back, and then he would take a cup of coffee.'