"Why, Frances," he cried; "I have never seen you do such a clumsy thing
before."

She was deadly pale, her hand shaking.

"I have frightened myself," she said, "and no wonder with such a noise."

A servant came, who made everything right.

Then Lance continued, "You interrupted me, Frances. I was just saying
that child-murder is one of the greatest blots on the civilization of
the present day."

"It is such a horrible thing to speak of," she said, feebly.

"It wants some speaking about," said Lance. "I never take up a paper
without reading one or two cases. I wonder that the Government does not
take it up and issue some decree or other. It is a blot on the face of
the land."

"I do not suppose that any decree of Government would change it," I
said; "the evil lies too deeply for that; the law should be made equal;
as it is, the whole blame, shame and punishment fall on the woman, while
the man goes free; there will be no change for the better while that is
the case. I have not patience to think of the irregularity of the law."

"You are right, John," said my old friend. "Still, cruelty in a woman is
so horrible, and the woman must be as cruel as a demon who deserts or
slays her own child. If I had my own way, I would hang every one who
does it; there would soon be an end of it then."