“Great Heaven! How horrible!” cried Ralph Moore, excitedly.
“Oh, Marion, how dreadful!” gasped Dollie, almost crying.
“Thank God she is dead!” was Miss Allyn’s low murmur.
“I will tell you about it,” said Reginald Brookes, bravely. “Poor Miss Marlowe has borne enough without the pain of this recital.”
There was not a sound in the room as he described the fearful scenes, but when Lawyer Atherton’s name was mentioned Dollie shuddered visibly.
Ralph put his arm around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder.
Bert looked surprised and then glad, for he felt sure that Dollie had told him everything.
And so she had, for Dollie was truthful at heart. Now that she had found shelter for her weakness she was almost blissfully happy.
It was Bert who spoke first when the story was ended, for the fine, manly youth was too strong willed to be entirely overcome by a tale of sorrow.
“Well, I am mighty glad that tragedy is ended,” he said, very soberly. “I’m glad for the poor woman that she is at rest at last, and I’m glad that Mr. Ray is free from such a creature; but, best of all, I am glad you roasted the old lawyer, Marion, for somehow, ever since I first saw him I’ve hated the old duffer!”