Mr. Finley, coming instantly upon the scene, dragged him furiously to his feet.
“You devil, you have killed your sister! Now fly, fly, and save yourself from the law!”
But even while he spoke, the dining-room door was thrown violently open, and Mrs. Finley, followed by Nora, rushed upon the scene.
By the light thrown from the open doorway of the room they had left, Pansy’s recumbent figure, with the blood flowing from it, was plainly seen on the floor.
“Oh, Heaven, what is this?” cried the distracted woman, and Willie wrenched himself loose from his stepfather’s hold, and answered despairingly:
“Mother, it is Pansy. She came back, as this wretch here was always hinting she would, and my fiendish temper got the better of me——”
“And you killed her, you devil!” interrupted Mrs. Finley. She lifted her arm, shrieking hoarsely: “Go, go—with a mother’s curse on your wicked head! You are no longer a child of mine.”
But Mr. Finley exclaimed sharply:
“Hush your clatter, you parcel of fools! Perhaps she is not dead, after all. Doctor Hewitt will be back in a moment. Willie, go to your room, and stay there until I come to you!”
Trained to habits of the strictest obedience to his harsh stepfather, Willie mechanically obeyed, and then Mr. Finley turned to his wife and said sharply: