"Eh, dearie, I know'd not when she would be killed. But fair maids wi' fierce lovers had best be wary, an' I thought if t'Squoire knew o' her wickedness, he might hev anger wi' her."
"In other words, you brought down Herne in the hope that he might fulfil your prophecy, and kill Milly," cried Lovel. "You are a wicked old Jezebel, and, blood or no blood, I shall have nothing to do with you!"
The old woman began to whimper and expostulate with feeble energy; but her grandson would listen to no excuses. With an angry look at her, he crawled out of the tent, and walked hastily across the common, trying to get rid of his wrath by violent exercise. It was easily seen, as he considered, that gran, had hoped for the death of Milly at the hands of Herne. That the squire had not killed her was due to the trance into which he had fallen while witnessing her fickleness; a trance which had rendered him incapable of inflicting punishment on the fair woman who had deceived him. Without doubt--judging from the evidence of the pistol--Chaskin had committed the crime; and finding Herne in the trance, had probably taken his handkerchief and dipped it into the blood, with the idea of saving himself and inculpating his friend. Lovel could not conceive how Chaskin could have known of the meeting, unless----
"Gran Jimboy again!" he cried, stopping short, as the idea struck him. "She told Chaskin, she excited his jealousy, and guided him to the spot. Failing Herne, she was determined that the parson should kill Milly, and so fulfil her evil words, I see it all! We have been puppets, and that infernal hag has pulled the strings to make us dance."
While he was thus talking to himself, Paul came running up, and expostulated with Lovel for having left the tent so hurriedly. "Gran is a wicked old woman," said he--"I admit that; and she has acted ill; but it is for your sake, Lovel, that she has done these things."
"I know it, I know it! She wishes to force me into marriage with Miss Clyde. Marry that Amazon, with her mannish ways and rough tongue! I'd rather die!--the more especially when I know that Milly was put out of the way to bring about the match," he concluded, biting his fingers.
"My dear fellow, you forget. Herne, brought down by that letter, did not kill Milly."
"No; but Chaskin did," replied Lucas wrathfully; "and I believe that gran told him of the meeting, and induced him to come to the place. However you put it, Mexton, that old wretch is responsible for the tragedy."
"Well," said Paul, as they resumed their walk, "that point will bear arguing. But now that we know the truth, what is to be done?"
"We must tell Drek, and have Chaskin arrested."