‘I hardly think that possible. Of what crime can you be guilty, to accuse yourself so bitterly.’
‘I am a murderess!’
She brought out the words so vehemently that I started. Was it possible she spoke the truth? And yet I had seen in our gaol, such young and superior-looking criminals, that I knew it might be possible. My thoughts flew at once to her child.
‘Was it the baby?’ I cried. ‘Oh! my poor child! what drove you to such an awful deed?’
‘Do you pity me still?’
‘I pity you with all my heart.’
‘Ah! madam; you are too good.’
She trembled so violently that I had taken the child from her arms, and as I stood there in the wintry path, she sank down upon her knees before me and kissed the border of my shawl, and hid her face in it and cried.
‘Mrs Graham, I cannot believe it!’