You see I am the chief sufferer." These words, however, fell without effect upon the girl's ears, in which was booming the awful, storm-like roar of her excitement.

She did not see her persecutor standing there; her vision, unhindered by walls and distance, went straight away to a place in the wilderness, where all mangled and disfigured Beverley lay dead.

A low cry broke from her lips; she dropped the heavy swivel-balls; and then, like a bird, swiftly, with a rustling swoop, she went past Hamilton and down the stair.
For perhaps a full minute the man stood there motionless, stupefied, amazed; and when at length he recovered himself, it was with difficulty that he followed her.

Everything seemed to hinder him.

When he reached the open air, however, he quickly regained his activity of both mind and body, and looked in all directions.