The woman winced at the name, and drew back. "I only ask you to think kindly of me," she said in a low voice, "for we may never meet again. When you know everything--" "Oh, no, no!" cried poor Audrey, anxiously. "I have learnt as much as I can bear just now. I do not wish to hear anything more," and she clung to her husband, while her father tightly clasped her hand as though fearful of losing her again. "You must know all," said Lady Branwin, calmly, "because you won't see me again. I pass out of your life very, very soon." "What would you do?" asked Colonel Ilse, sharply. "I would tell you the whole truth." "Perhaps I know it," put in Perry Toat, who was on her feet. "You were quarrelling with your sister over the stolen child." "Ah! Miss Pearl heard that much and told you, did she?" sneered Lady Branwin, taking care to keep near the door. "What more?" "Nothing more. She said that your voices ceased suddenly." "Ah," said Lady Branwin, coolly and reflectively, "that must have been while I was strangling Flora." "Oh!" There was a general cry of dismay and horror. Eddy staggered to his feet and pointed a shaking finger at the woman. "You--you murdered my dear wife?" he stammered. "Yes," mocked Lady Branwin, sneeringly, "I murdered your dear wife, who for years had been blackmailing me. Colonel Ilse, you will understand that Sir Joseph was angry because I had no children; there was no prospect of my having any. Then Flora told me how she wished to be revenged on you, and offered to bring me your child as soon as it was born. I agreed." "You wicked woman!" cried the Colonel, glaring. "Yes, I am very wicked," said Lady Branwin, with a weary air. "And if you had lived my life you would have been wicked also--that is, if you could have endured such a life for so many years as I did. You needn't look so savage. Your child had a good home. I was sorry it was not a boy, but under the circumstances I adopted the baby when Flora brought it as my own, and Audrey cannot say but what I have been a good mother." "You have been very kind," said the girl, in muffled tones, and hiding her tearful face on her husband's breast. "You are a wicked woman!" repeated Colonel Ilse again, shrinking from her. "And a murderess!" said Perry Toat, indignantly. "Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, turning on Eddy. "I didn't know for certain," stammered the young man.