"'Dead,' said I. 'What! are you turned coward now?'
"'Macdermot, you look dreadful. I am afraid of you, not of her.'
"'Aha, my girl! you should have thought of that before. The hound that laps blood once will lap again. You have taught me how to kill, and I don't care who, or how many I kill now. When Kinnaird comes home I will put a ball through his brain, and send him to keep company below with the housekeeper.'
"She put down the pails,--she sprang towards me, and, clinging to my arm, exclaimed in frantic tones--
"'You won't kill him?'
"'By ---, I will! why should he escape more than Hannah? And hark you, girl, if you dare to breathe a word to any one of my intention, or tell to any one, by word or sign, what I have done, I'll kill you!'
"She trembled like a leaf. Yes, that young demon trembled. 'Don't kill me,' she whined, 'don't kill me, Macdermot! I swear that I will not betray you; and oh, don't kill him!'
"'And why the devil do you want me to spare him?'
"'He is so handsome!'
"'Pshaw!'