your further orders from him. I can do nothing more."

She left the room. Jane Pool looked ominously after her.

"No," she said, between her set lips; "you have done enough."

"Oh, Jane, hush!" Ellen whispers in terror.

There has still been no direct accusation, but they understand each
other perfectly.

"When the time comes to speak, you'll see whether I'll hush," retorts
Jane. "What was she doing in this room fifteen minutes before you
found my lady dead? Why wouldn't she let me in? why did she tell me a
lie? what made her say my lady was still asleep? Asleep! Oh, poor soul,
to think of her being murdered here, while we were all enjoying
ourselves below. And if I hadn't took away the baby its my opinion it
would have been--"

"Oh, Jane!"

"'Oh, Jane,' as much as you please, it's the gospel truth. Them that
killed the mother hated the child. When the time comes I'll speak, if
she was twice the lady she is, Ellen!"

"Lor!" Ellen cried with a nervous jump, "don't speak so jerky Mrs.
Pool. You make my blood a mask of ice. What is it?"

"Ellen," Jane Pool said solemnly, "where is the dagger?"