g of _you_!"

There was a ring of the old-time haughty independence in her voice;
Octavius rejoiced to hear it. "She's getting a grip on herself," he said
to himself; "I hope she'll give her one 'fore she gets through with
her."

"Why didn't my brother save his money for him then--if he's his son?"
she demanded sharply, but breathing short as she spoke the last words in
a tone that conveyed the venom of intense hatred.

"Almeda, don't; you know well enough 'why'; don't keep me in such
suspense--I can't bear it; only tell me if you will help."

She seemed to gather herself together; she swept round the table; came
close to the woman in the armchair; bent to her; the dark burning eyes
fixed the faded blue ones. "Tell me quick, I say,--I can bear no more."

"Aurora Googe, I sent word to you by Octavius Buzzby that I would not
help your state's-prison bird--fledged from your nest, not mine,--"

She did not finish, for the woman she was torturing suddenly laid a hot
hand hard and close, for the space of a few seconds, over those
malevolent lips. Mrs. Champney drew back, turned in her chair and
reached for the bell.

Aurora removed her hand.

"Stop there, you've said enough, Almeda Champney!" she commanded her.
She pointed to the portrait over the fireplace. "By the love he bore my
son--by the love we two women bore him--help--"

Mrs. Champney rose suddenly by great effort from her chair. The two
women stood facing each other.

"Go--go!" she cried out shrilly, hoarsely; her face was distorted with
passion, her hands were clenched and trembling violently, "leave my
sight--leave my house--you--_you_ ask _me_, by the love we bore Louis
Champney, to save from his just deserts Louis Champney's bastard!"

Her voice rose to a shriek; she shook her fist in Aurora's face, then
sank into her chair and, seizing the bell, rang it furiously.

Octavius darted forward, but stopped short when he heard Aurora's
voice--low, dull, as if a sickening horror had quenched forever its
life:

"You have thought _that_ all these years?--O God!--Louis--Louis, what
more--"

She fell before Octavius could reach her. Aileen and Ann, hearing the
bell, came running through the hall into the room.

"Help me up stairs, Aileen,"--the old woman was in command as
usual,--"give me my cane, Ann; don't stand there staring like two
fools."

Aileen made a sign to Octavius to call Hannah; the two women helped the
mistress of Champ-au-Haut up to her