"Am I to live for you, William?" she cried, with inexpressible joy.
He made no answer, but averted his head.
"In mercy give me back the phial," she exclaimed, again plunged into the depths of despair.
"I must refuse your request," he replied.
"Have you done, Elizabeth?" demanded Lady Lake, coming forth from the passage.
"A moment more, mother," cried Lady Roos. "One word—one look!" she added to her husband.
But he neither spoke to her, nor regarded her.
"I am ready to accompany you now, mother," said the poor lady faintly.
"Nerve yourself, weak-hearted girl," said Lady Lake, in a low tone. "Revenge is ours."
"If I could only strike her without injuring him, I should not heed," thought Lady Roos. "But where he suffers, I must also suffer, and yet more acutely."