"My God!" at length Kate exclaimed; "she does not breathe—she does not move;—and her hands—oh! how pale they are!" Then, overcoming her terror, the young maiden bent down her head so as to obtain a glimpse of Mrs. Kenrick's countenance. "Oh! heavens—she is dead—she is dead!" cried the horror-struck girl, as her eyes encountered a livid and ghastly face instead of the healthy and good-humoured one which was familiar to her. And Katherine sank back in her seat, overcome with grief and terror. Suddenly the thought struck her that, after all, the housekeeper might only be in a fit. Blaming herself for the delay which her fears had occasioned ere she administered succour, Kate hastened to raise the old lady's head. But she let it fall again when she had obtained another glance of that ghastly countenance;—for the eyes were fixed and glazed—the under jaw had fallen—and the swollen tongue was lolling, dark and livid, out of the mouth. Then Kate rushed into the yard, screaming for help. The rector's groom (who also acted as coachman) was in the stable adjoining; and he immediately hastened to the spot. "What is the matter?" he demanded, alarmed by the wildness of Katherine's manner and the piercing agony of her cries. "Mrs. Kenrick is dead!" replied Katherine, sobbing bitterly. "Dead!" ejaculated the man; and he instantly rushed into the kitchen. In a few moments afterwards the rector made his appearance, and inquired the cause of the screams which had alarmed him. "Mrs. Kenrick is dead, sir," said the groom. Katherine had flung herself into a chair, and was giving full vent to her grief for the loss of her benefactress. "Dead!" cried the rector. "No—let us hope not. Run for the nearest surgeon—it may only be a fit!" "I'm afraid it's too late, sir," said the groom, who had now raised the housekeeper from her procumbent posture, and laid her back in the chair. "Who knows? Run—run," exclaimed the rector impatiently. The groom instantly departed; and during his short absence the rector was most assiduous in bathing the housekeeper's forehead with vinegar and water, and chafing her hands between his own. In a few minutes the groom returned, accompanied by a surgeon; and the rector was found in the midst of his vain attentions. The surgeon's examination was brief; but his words were decisive, as he said, "All human aid is vain, sir; and those appearances are most suspicious." [Illustration] "What do you mean?" demanded Reginald. "That your servant is poisoned," replied the surgeon. "Poisoned!" exclaimed the rector. "Oh! no—you must mistake. She would not take poison herself, and I do not believe she has an enemy on the face of the earth." "Nevertheless, Mr. Tracy," said the surgeon positively, "she is poisoned." At these words Kate's sobs became more convulsive. "But is it too late?" cried the rector: "can nothing be done? Is she past recovery?" "Past all human succour, I repeat."