"Who? what? For Heaven's sake, speak!"
"The puir bit lassie—" began the dame; but her voice failed, and she covered her face with her apron and began to howl.
Claudia gazed at her in consternation and horror for a minute, and then again demanded:
"What lassie? Who is murdered? For the Lord's sake try to answer me!"
"Puir Ailsie! puir wee bit lassie!" wailed the woman.
"Ailsie! what has happened to her?" demanded Lady Vincent, bewildered with panic.
"She's found murthered!" howled the housekeeper.
"Ailsie! Heaven of heavens, no!" cried Claudia, wound up to a pitch of frenzied excitement.
"Aye is she; found lying outside the castle wall, wi' her puir throat cut fra ear to ear!" shrieked the dame, covering up her face to smother the cries she could not suppress.
"Mercy of Heaven, how horrible!" exclaimed Lady Vincent, throwing her hands up to her face, and falling back on her pillow.