on the floor, with a bloody knife
in her hand.

"Mother!" cried Jack, springing towards her.

"Jack!" she cried, raising her head. "Is it you?"

"It is," replied her son, "Oh! why would you not listen to me?"

"I was distracted," replied Mrs. Sheppard, faintly.

"I have killed you," cried Jack, endeavouring to staunch the effusion of
blood from her breast. "Forgive--forgive me!"

"I have nothing to forgive," replied Mrs. Sheppard. "I alone am to
blame."

"Can I not carry you where you can obtain help?" cried Jack in a agony
of distress.

"It is useless," replied Mrs. Sheppard: "nothing can save me. I die
happy--quite happy in beholding you. Do not remain with me. You may fall
into the hands of your enemy. Fly! fly!"

"Do not think of me, mother, but of yourself," cried Jack, in an agony
of tears.

"You have always been, far dearer to me than myself," replied Mrs.
Sheppard. "But I have one last request to make. Let me lie in Willesden
churchyard."

"You shall--you shall," answered Jack.

"We shall meet again ere long, my son," cried Mrs. Sheppard, fixing her
glazing eyes upon him.

"Oh God! she is dying," exclaimed Jack in a voice suffocated by emotion.
"Forgive me--oh, forgive me!"

"Forgive you--bless you!" she gasped.

A cold shiver ran through her frame, and her gentle spirit passed away
for ever.

"Oh, God! that I might die too," cried Jack, falling on his knees beside
her.

After the first violent outbreak of grief had in some degree subsided,
Thames addressed him.

"You must not remain here," he said. "You can render no further service
to your poor mother."

"I can avenge her," cried Jack in a terrible tone.

"Be ruled by me," returned Thames. "You will act most in accordance with
her wishes, could she dictate them, by compliance. Do not waste time in
vain regrets, but let us remove the body, that we may fulfil her last
injunctions."

After some further arguments, Jack assented to this proposal.

"Go on first with the light," he said. "I will bear the body." And he
raised it in his arms.

Just as they reached the end of the passage, they heard the voices of
Jonathan and the Jew in Thames's late place of confinement. Wild had
evidently discovered the body of Quilt Arnold, and was loudly expressing
his anger and astonishment.

"Extinguish the light," cried Jack; "turn to the left. Quick! Quick!"

The order was only just given in time. They had scarcely gained the
adjoining cellar