held the pith from breaking. This pith was
dipped in boiling fat, and when the tallow had condensed it was
dipped again, and the candle given as many coats as was desired.
Such a rushlight was a far more useful candle, and if it did not
emit as large a flame and give forth so much light as a dip which
had a cotton wick it was sufficient to serve most purposes for
which in a farmhouse artificial illumination was required.

The first and inferior sort of rushlight was that which Matabel
allowed herself for the sick-room.

When she laid her head on the pillow and threw the patched-work
quilt over her shoulders the cool of the pillow struck through
her head and relieved the fire that had raged therein.

She could not sleep.

She thought over what had happened. She considered Bideabout's
action as calmly as possible. Was it conceivable that he should
seek the life of his own child? He had shown it no love, but it
was a far cry from lack of parental affection to deliberate
attempt at murder.

What gain would there be to him in the death of his child? She
was too innocent and simple to think of Mrs. Verstage's bequest
as supplying the motive. As far as she could find there was nothing
to account for Jonas' desire to hasten the child's death save
weariness at its cries which distressed him at night, and this
was no adequate reason. There was another, but that she put from
her in disgust. Bad as Bideabout might be she could not credit him
with that.

What was that bottle which Jonas had been given by the doctor when
his arm was bound up? Of laudanum she knew nothing, but remembered
that it had been recommended as a means for giving him the rest he
so required. It was a medicine intended to produce sleep. He had
refused it because afraid lest he should administer to himself,
or have administered to him, an overdose which would cause him to
sleep too soundly, and slide away into the slumber of death.

It was possible that the surgeon at Godalming knew that Jonas
possessed this phial, and had given him the medicine for the child
along with instructions as to how many drops of the laudanum he
was to add to the mixture, to make it serve its proper purpose.

If that were so, then the Broom-Squire had acted as directed by a
competent person and for the good of his child, and she, his wife,
had cruelly, wickedly, misjudged him. Gentle, generous, incapable
of harboring an evil thought, Matabel at once and with avidity
seized