"There will be a way," she had said, and yet in her most mad despair, of
this way she had never thought; though strange it had been, considering
her lawless past, that she had not--never of this way--never!
Notwithstanding which, in one frenzied moment in which she had known
naught but her delirium, her loaded whip had found it for her--the way!

And yet it being so found, and she stood staring, seeing what she had
done--seeing what had befallen--'twas as if the blow had been struck not
at her own temple but at her heart--a great and heavy shock, which left
her bloodless, and choked, and gasping.

"What! what!" she panted. "Nay! nay! nay!" and her eyes grew wide and
wild.

She sank upon her knees, so shuddering that her teeth began to chatter.
She pushed him and shook him by the shoulder.

"Stir!" she cried in a loud whisper. "Move thee! Why dost thou lie so?
Stir!"

Yet he stirred not, but lay inert, only with his lips drawn back, showing
his white teeth a little, as if her horrid agony made him begin to laugh.
Shuddering, she drew slowly nearer, her eyes more awful than his own. Her
hand crept shaking to his wrist and clutched it. There was naught
astir--naught! It stole to his breast, and baring it, pressed close.
That was still and moveless as his pulse; for life was ended, and a
hundred mouldering years would not bring more of death.

"I have _killed_ thee," she breathed. "I have _killed_ thee--though I
meant it not--even hell itself doth know. Thou art a dead man--and this