But when she proceeded to impose an oath upon him that he would never take her child from her, the heart of the father demurred.

Whereupon she swore that, if ever he made the attempt, she would poison the child rather than that he should succeed.

He turned pale as death, and she saw that she had gained her point.

And, indeed, the woman was capable of anything to which she had made up her mind--a power over one's self and friends not desirable except in view of such an object as that of _Lady Macbeth_.

But Mrs Beauchamp, like her, considered it only a becoming strength of spirit, and would have despised herself if she had broken one resolution for another indubitably better.