ruck her in my
anger, and drove her up stairs."

"Struck her!" said Godfrey, starting back. "Struck a woman! That woman
your sister, and in her helpless situation! You dared not do such a
cowardly, unmanly act?"

"I was drunk," said Mathews, gloomily; "and she was so aggravating that
I am not sure that you would have kept your hands off her. She flew at
me like an enraged tiger-cat, with clenched fists and eyes flashing
fire, and returned me what I gave with interest; and I believe there
would have been murder between us, if Mrs. Strawberry had not dragged
her off. What has become of her, mother. How is she now?"

"You had better go up and see," said the woman, with a bitter laugh.
"She is not very likely to fight again to-day."

There was something mysterious in the woman's manner that startled the
ruffian. "Come up with me, Godfrey, and speak to her. One word from you
will make my peace with Mary. I did not mean to hurt the girl."

Mary had been sleeping. The sound of their steps broke in upon her
feverish slumber; but she still kept her eyes closed, as if unwilling to
rouse herself from the stupor of grief in which she had fallen.

"She is sleeping," said Mathews, approaching the bed. "By Jove! I
thought she was dead. How still she lies. How deadly pale she looks--and
what is that upon her breast?"

"A child! my child!" cried Godfrey, stepping eagerly forward. "Poor
Mary! she is safe through that trial. But the child--"

"Is dead," said Mathews. "Yes, dead. Godfrey you are in luck. What a
fortunate thing for us all."

"Dead!" said the young father, laying his hand upon the cold pale cheek
of his first born. "Aye, so it is. She was so healthy, I dared not hope
for this. Poor little pale cold thing, how happy I am to see you thus!
What a load of anxiety your death has removed from my heart! What a
blessing it would have been if it had pleased God to take them both!"

This from the man she loved--the father of her child--was too much. Mary
opened her large tear-swollen eyes, and fixed them mournfully upon his
face. He stooped down, and would have kissed her; but she drew back with
ill-disguised horror. The love she had so madly cherished for him was
gone--vanished for ever in those cruel words, and nought but the blank
darkness and horror of remorse remained. She turned upon her pillow, and
fixing her eyes upon the dead infant, mentally swore that she would live
for revenge. She no longer shed a tear, or utte