“No, sir,” answered Mr. Withers, with dignity, “she is not my wife, gentlemen. I _do_ know this young woman, have known her from a child; her life for the last three years has been full of passion, sin, suffering, and sorrow that eventuated in insanity, and has ended as you may see in suicide. For the last year she has been my pensioner, and an inmate of the —— lunatic asylum. A few months ago I was informed by letter that she had escaped; yesterday evening I discovered that she was in this neighborhood, by coming upon her suddenly while she was conversing with Miss Churchill. I believe she followed me to this neighborhood, yet at my approach she fled. That was last night, her body was found this morning. This is all I have to tell, sirs.” He made a ceremonious bow, and retired from the table. The company gathered in groups to converse upon the singular event—the strange statement of the wanderer, given in the evidence of Miss Churchill, was scarcely noticed—just set down as the raving of a maniac. Withers approached Sophie, and, stooping, hissed in her ear, “Most cruel girl! do you deem what you have made me suffer? I have been stretched upon the rack, but you—you—_you_ are piling up wrath against a day of wrath. Mark _that_, Sophie Churchill!” The poor girl, after her extraordinary effort, had relapsed into utter languor, but she raised her languid eyes, and murmured,— “I think _you_ are.” He stopped, glanced around—no one was now observing him—stooped, and said, “What do you mean, Sophie? Do you think that I have ever wronged a hair of that poor creature’s head? No, Sophie, no—no, as I hoped to be saved, _never_!” He moved away from Sophie, and going to Mrs. Green, said, “My dear madam, I wish you to take Miss Churchill home with you this evening, and keep her there for the next two weeks; her health is sadly shaken by these exciting events. As for the school we must procure a substitute, or it must for the present be disbanded. I will remain here and attend to this interment.” The company were getting into their saddles to depart. Mrs. May, Mrs. Green, Lieutenant Wilde, and Mr. Withers, remained to tea.