Nannie, I am coming; but where is my child?
Where is that woman who took it away?
My child! Where is my child ?" Whilst this melancholy scene was taking place, another of a very different description was occurring near the cottage.

Two poachers, who were concealed in a hazel copse on the brow of a little glen beside it, saw a woman advance with an infant, which, by its cries, they felt satisfied was but newly born.
Its cries, however, were soon stilled, and they saw her deposit it in a little grave which had evidently been prepared for it.

She had covered it slightly with a portion of clay, but ere she had time to proceed further they pounced upon her.
"Hould her fast," said one of them, "she has murdered the infant.

At all events, take it up, and I will keep her safe." This was done, and a handkerchief, the one with which she had strangled it, was found tightly tied about its neck.

That she was the instrument of Woodward in this terrible act, who can doubt?
In the meantime both she and the dead body of the child were brought back to Rathfillan, where, upon their evidence, he was at once committed to prison, the handkerchief having been kept as a testimony against him, for it was at once discovered to be her own property.
During all this time Grace Davoren lay dying, in a state of the most terrible desolation, with the dead body of Nannie Morrissy on the bed beside her.