this bad, cruel man. He has killed the only creature that loved me--
the dumb beast that I loved. Bring down heavy sorrow on his head for
it, O ye saints! He thought that I was helpless, because he saw me
lonely and poor; but are not the armies of heaven for the like of
me?"

"Come, come," said he, half remorseful, but not one whit afraid.
"Here's a crown to buy thee another dog. Take it, and leave off
cursing! I care none for thy threats."

"Don't you?" said she, coming a step closer, and changing her
imprecatory cry for a whisper which made the gamekeeper's lad,
following Mr. Gisborne, creep all over. "You shall live to see the
creature you love best, and who alone loves you--ay, a human
creature, but as innocent and fond as my poor, dead darling--you
shall see this creature, for whom death would be too happy, become a
terror and a loathing to all, for this blood's sake. Hear me, O holy
saints, who never fail them that have no other help!"

She threw up her right hand, filled with poor Mignon's life-drops;
they spirted, one or two of them, on his shooting-dress,--an ominous
sight to the follower. But the master only laughed a little, forced,
scornful laugh, and went on to the Hall. Before he got there,
however, he took out a gold piece, and bade the boy carry it to the
old woman on his return to the village. The lad was "afeared," as he
told me in after years; he came to the cottage, and hovered about,
not daring to enter. He peeped through the window at last; and by
the flickering wood-flame, he saw Bridget kneeling before the picture
of Our Lady of the Holy Heart, with dead Mignon lying between her and
the Madonna. She was praying wildly, as her outstretched arms