fter I had finished my narrative I felt how
thoughtless I had been, and how neglectful of her comforts.

When Ruth was taken to her room, however, with two of the maids to
attend her, the excitement began to pass away, and the servants, with
the exception of the old man whom I had seen at my first visit,
returned to their rooms.

For a few minutes Mr. Inch and I were left alone; he still trembled
with fear and wonder, perhaps also because of a troubled conscience, I
with a strange joy surging in my heart, thinking only of the blissful
present.

"This will cause much talk, and necessitate much investigation," said
the old steward.

"I suppose so," said I, absently.

"A great lawsuit would have come on," he said. "Two parties were
claiming the property. Lawyers are preparing the case on either side,
and the matter has already become public."

"That will all come to an end now," I said.

"I suppose so; but it will be the wonder of the countryside. I wonder
what Wilfred will say?"

I had forgotten Wilfred. The feelings aroused by seeing Ruth alive had
for the time quieted all my bitter memories of my struggle with
Wilfred, together with its awful ending.

"I wonder what Wilfred will say!"

The words struck terror into my soul. Wilfred, unless now discovered,
was lying bruised, battered, dead, on the great rocks beneath the
cliffs. Perhaps the fishes might know of his presence, and the great
sad sea would sweep remorselessly over his lifeless body; but Wilfred
would never know of what had been done.

My heaven of joyful thoughts was gone now. The hell of bitter
memories, the hell of a murderer possessed me.

The old man's remark was left unanswered. It had dashed me down into a
great gulf; it had led me to make what was to me a terrible resolve.

A little while later Ruth came back to the room again. The servants
had tried to persuade her to retire; but she declared that she could
not sleep and she wished to come to me.

She was Ruth again now, Ruth as I had seen her last. She had got rid
of her terrible garments, and except that she looked very pale, and was
a little older, I saw no difference in her. But there was a
difference. Love was shining out of her eyes, and she did not hide
from me the fact that I was the king of her heart.

But this gave me no joy now, no heaven. The ghastly form of my brother
Wilfred stood between us. I took her hand as she came in, and tried to
soothe her, for I