The woman stood there in her solitude for some minutes thinking of the thing she had done.

The man had injured her,--sorely,--and she had punished him.

He had richly deserved the death which he had received from her hands.

In these minutes, as regarded him, there was no remorse.

But how should she tell the news to her child?
The blow which had thrust him over would, too probably, destroy other life than his.