"Wretch! hold your tongue!" exclaimed Elfrida Force, clasping her head
with both hands.

"Or," relentlessly continued the man, "would her happiness be best secured
by marrying me, who, knowing the skeleton in the closet, accepts it with
other family incumbrances, and keeps it closely locked up from the
knowledge of all, since his honor is then also concerned in its
concealment, and in the social rank and domestic peace of his new
relations? Now, then, answer me. Which fate is to be preferred for your
daughter?"

"Oh, demon! I think a marriage with you the worst possible fate that could
befall my child. If she only were in question I would--oh, my Lord, how
gladly!--lay her in her coffin rather than give her to you. But it is not
of her that I am thinking most," moaned the lady, almost unconsciously, as
she bowed her weary head upon her hand.

No, nor was it over the child, but over the husband she was mourning--the
adored husband--the proud, sensitive, honorable man, whose head would be
bowed to the dust with shame at any reproach, however undeserved, that
might fall upon his wife.

Who cannot foresee the result of such a contest? Before the end of the
interview the mother had consented to offer up her child, that the wife
might save her husband.

Angus Anglesea left the room triumphant.

Elfrida Force crept up to her bedchamber, opened a little medicine chest,
took from it a small vial containing a colorless liquid, poured out a few
drops in a wineglass half full of water, and drank off the sedative.

This was not the first occasion on which the unhappy lady had felt herself
obliged to resort to deadening drugs to enable her to bear the presence of
Angus Anglesea in the house.

Then she locked her medicine chest, and went down to the sitting room,
and, calling a servant, said:

"Watch for Miss Odalite. She is out walking. As soon as she returns ask
her to come immediately to me."

"Miss Odalite is comin', ma'am. I seen her just now a-comin' froo de souf
gate," replied the negro boy.

"Then go and meet her, and ask her to come to me."

"Yes, ma'am," replied the boy, darting out to do his errand.

In a few moments Odalite came in, looking anxiously at her mother.

"You sent for me, mamma. You are not well. Have you a headache?" she
inquired, tenderly.

"No, darling, a heartache, rather. Lay off your bonnet and coat, Odalite,
and come here and sit beside me on this sofa."

Odalite obeyed, still full o