That was why, the next moment, there came the sharp clink of glass against glass as her hands came in contact with what she sought, overturning and breaking both, with such a sharp, keen, crystalline tinkle that both the sleepers were aroused suddenly and quickly, and Mr. Clarke flung out his arms, clutching Roma ere she could escape, and demanding bewilderedly: "What is the matter? Who is this?" "Edmund! Edmund!" cried his equally startled wife, hastily lighting a night lamp close to her arm, in time to see Roma writhing and struggling in her father's arms. "Roma!" he panted. "Roma!" echoed his wife. It was a situation to strike terror to the girl's guilty heart. But in her scheming she had not failed to take into account any possible contretemps. Failing in her efforts to escape before her identity was detected, Roma laughed aloud, hysterically: "Dear papa, do not squeeze me so hard, please; you take away my breath! Why, you must take me for a burglar!" Edmund Clarke, releasing her and not yet fully awake, stammered drowsily: "Yes--I--took--you--for--a--burglar. What do you want, Roma?" "Yes, what is the matter, my dear?" added Mrs. Clarke wonderingly, while Roma, mistress of the situation still, pressed her hand to her cheek, groaning hysterically: "Oh, papa, mamma, forgive me for arousing you, but I am suffering so much with a wretched toothache, and I came to ask you for some medicine to ease it!" "Poor dear!" exclaimed Mrs. Clarke, with immediate maternal sympathy, as she rose quickly from her bed and motioned Roma into her dressing room, searching for remedies within a little medicine case while she plied her with questions. "When did it begin to ache, dear? Why didn't you send Dolly for the medicine? It will make you worse, coming along the cold corridors!" "For goodness' sake, don't tease! Give me the medicine quick as you can!" Roma answered crossly, dropping into a chair and hiding her face in her hands, her whole form shaking with fury at the failure of her scheme to kill Edmund Clarke. A blind, terrible rage possessed her, and she would have liked to spring upon him and clutch his throat with murderous hands. But she dare not give way to her murderous impulse; she must wait and try her luck again, for die he must, and that very soon. She could only wreak her pent-up rage by cross answers to the gentle lady she called mother, and Mrs. Clarke, with a patient sigh of wounded feeling, turned to her, replying: "I did not mean to tease you, Roma, but here is some medicine. Put five drops of it upon this bit of cotton and press it into the cavity of your tooth, and it will give you speedy relief. In the morning you must visit a dentist." Roma lifted her pale face, and answered: "Yes, I will visit a dentist, but not one at Stonecliff. I will go to Boston by the early train." "I will go with you and do some shopping," said her mother, who had a very feminine love of finery.