The twilight silence was broken sharp in two by a cry that rang across the room. We started from our dream together and looked around. Sarah was standing midway in the long room, steadying herself by a hand reached out to a chair. I ran to hold her from falling. She grasped my arm and walked on unsteadily toward Jane.
"I knew it! I knew it always!" she cried harshly.
"You tortuous woman—you are taking him from me! You did it from the first day! How I hate you!"
"No, child, you are wrong! There is no truth in your cruel words."
She dropped into a chair and sobbed. Jane knelt down by her side and, grasping her hands, spoke to her in low, pleading words:—
"No, child, you are wrong! You wrong him. He is not such a man. There is no truth in your cruel words."
"Yes, you have made him do dishonorable things. He has acted so his own family have left him. I know it is you!" she sobbed. "He has done what you would have him do."