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Lisa's needle flew through the red and yellow silk。 It was pleasant work； she was doing it skilfully。 The fire warmed her thin blood。 She could hear the baby's regular； soft breathing as it slept。 A pleasure that was almost like health stole through her lean body。 She leaned back in her chair looking at Jacques。 In three years he could wear the velvet suit with the cap and pompon。 His hair would be yellow and curly； like his father's。 But his eyes would be like her mother's。 She pressed her hands together； laughing； the hot tears rushing to her eyes。 〃Ah； maman！〃 she said。 〃Do you know that your little girl has a baby？ Can you see him？〃
What a superb 〃great boy〃 he would be！ He should go to a military school。 Yes！ She lay back in her chair； watching him。
George suddenly started up with a cry of amazement。
〃What is it？〃 she said indifferently。
He did not answer； but turned the letter and read it over again。 Then he folded it with shaking fingers。
〃I have news here。 Miss Vance thinks it time that I was told； and I agree with her。 It appears that I am a pauper； and always have been。 My father died penniless。〃
〃Then Jacques will be poor？〃
〃Jacques！ You think of nothing but that mewling； senseless thing！ It is mothershe always has supported me。 We are living now on the money that she earns from week to week； while I play that I am an artist！〃
Lisa listened attentively。 〃It does not seem strange that a mother should work for her son；〃 she said slowly。 〃But she has never told us！ That is fine！ I like that！ I told you she had very good traits。〃
George stared at her。 〃Butme！ Don't you see what a cad I am？〃
He paced up and down； muttering； and then throwing on his hat went out into the night to be alone。
Lisa sank back again and watched Jacques。 At military school； yes； and after he had left school he would be a soldier； perhaps。 Such a gallant young fellow！
She leaned over the cradle； holding out her hands。 Ah； God！ if she could but live to see it！ Surely it might be？ There was no pain now。 Doctors were not infallibleeven D'Abri might be mistaken； after all。
George； coming in an hour later； found her sitting with her hands covering her face。
〃Are you asleep； Lisa？〃
〃No。〃
〃There is a telegram from Clara。 My mother has left Munich for Vannes。 She will be here in two days。〃
She rose with an effort。 〃I am glad for you； George。〃
〃You are ill； Lisa！〃
〃A little tired； only。 Colette will give me my powder； and I shall be quite well in the morning。 Will you send her to me now？〃
After George was gone the rumbling of a diligence was heard in the courtyard； and presently a woman was brought up to the opposite chamber。
The hall was dark。 Looking across it； Frances Waldeaux saw in the lighted room Lisa and her child。
CHAPTER XIV
Before we come to the dark story of that night in the inn； it is but fair to Frances to say that she came there with no definite evil purpose。 She had been cheerful on her journey from Munich。 There was one clear fact in her brain： She was on her way to George。
The countless toy farms of southern France； trimmed neatly by the inch； swept past her。 In Brittany came melancholy stretches of brown heath and rain…beaten hills； or great affluent estates； the Manor houses covered with thatch； stagnant pools close to the doors； the cattle breaking through the slovenly wattled walls。 Frances； being a farmer； felt a vague amusement at these things； but they were all dim to her as a faded landscape hanging on the wall。
She was going to George。
Sometimes she seemed to be in Lucy's room again； with the sweet； clean air of youth about her。 All of that purity and love might have gone into George's lifebefore it fell into the slough。
But she was going now to take it out of the slough。
There was a merchant and his wife from Geneva in the carriage with their little boy； a pretty child of five。 Frances played and joked with him。
〃Has madam also a son？〃 his mother asked civilly。
She said yes； and presently added； 〃My son has now a great trouble； but I am going to relieve him of it。〃
The woman； startled； stared at her。
〃Is it not right for me to rid him of it？〃 she demanded loudly。
〃Mais oui； certainement〃 said the Swiss。 She watched Frances after that furtively。 Her eyes； she thought； were quite sane。 But how eccentric all of these Americans were！
Mrs。 Waldeaux reached Vannes at nightfall。 At last！ Here was the place in this great empty world where he was。
When the diligence entered the courtyard； George was so near to the gate that the smoke of his cigar was blown into her face； but he did not see her。 He was lean and pale； and his eyes told his misery。 When she saw them his mother grew sick from head to foot with a sudden nausea。 This was his wife's doing。 She was killing him！ Frances hurried into the inn； her legs giving way under her。 She could not speak to him。 She must think what to do。
She was taken to her room。 It was dark； and across the corridor she saw Lisa in her lighted chamber。 This was good luck！ God had put the creature at once into her hands to deal with！
She was conscious of a strange exaltation； as if from wineas if she would never need to sleep nor eat again。 Her thoughts came and went like flashes of fire。 She watched Lisa as she would a vampire； a creeping deadly beast。 Pauline Felixall that was adulterous and vile in womenthere it was！
Her mind too； as never before； was full of a haughty complacency in herself。 She felt like the member of some petty sect who is sure that God communes with him inside of his altar rails； while the man is outside whom he believes that God made only to be damned。
Lisa began to undress。 Frances quickly turned away； ashamed of peeping into her chamber。 But the one fact burned on into her brain：
The woman was killing George。
If God would rid the world of her！ If a storm should rise now； and the lightning strike the house； and these stone walls should fall on her； nownow！
But the walls stood firm and the moonlight shone tranquilly on the world outside。
She told herself to be calmto be just。 But there was no justice while this woman went on with her work！ God saw。 He meant her to be stopped。 Frances prayed to him frantically that Lisa might soon be put off of the earth。 Just as the Catholic used to pray before he massacred the Huguenot； or the Protestant； when he tied his Catholic brother to the stake。 If this woman was mad for blood； it was a madness that many sincere people have shared。
Colette was busy with her mistress for a long time。 She was very gentle and tender； being fond of Lisa； as people of her class always were。 She raised her voice as she made ready to leave the room。
〃If the pain returns； here is the powder of morphia； mixed； within madame's reach；〃 she said。
Frances came close to the door。
〃And if it continues？〃 asked Lisa。
〃Let monsieur call me。 I would not trust him to measure a powder；〃 Colette said； laughing。 〃It is too dangerous。 He is not used to itlike me。〃
Mrs。 Waldeaux saw her lay a paper package on a shelf。
〃I will pray that the pain will n