Lair of the White Worm

"Are you sure?"

"Yes--and so are you--or you ought to be.  You killed her!"

"I killed her!  Be careful what you say!"

"As God sees us, it is true; and you know it.  You came to Mercy Farm on
purpose to break her--if you could.  And the accomplice of your guilt,
Lady Arabella March, came for the same purpose."

"Be careful, woman," he said hotly.  "Do not use such names in that way,
or you shall suffer for it."

"I am suffering for it--have suffered for it--shall suffer for it.  Not
for speaking the truth as I have done, but because you two, with devilish
malignity, did my darling to death.  It is you and your accomplice who
have to dread punishment, not I."

"Take care!" he said again.

"Oh, I am not afraid of you or your accomplice," she answered spiritedly.
"I am content to stand by every word I have said, every act I have done.
Moreover, I believe in God's justice.  I fear not the grinding of His
mills; if necessary I shall set the wheels in motion myself.  But you
don't care for God, or believe in Him.  Your god is your great kite,
which cows the birds of a whole district.  But be sure that His hand,
when it rises, always falls at the appointed time.  It may be that your
name is being called even at this very moment at the Great Assize.  Repent
while there is still time.  Happy you, if you may be allowed to enter
those mighty halls in the company of the pure-souled angel whose voice
has only to whisper one word of justice, and you disappear for ever into
everlasting torment."

The sudden death of Lilla caused consternation among Mimi's friends and
well-wishers.  Such a tragedy was totally unexpected, as Adam and Sir
Nathaniel had been expecting the White Worm's vengeance to fall upon
themselves.

Adam, leaving his wife free to follow her own desires with regard to
Lilla and her grandfather, busied himself with filling the well-hole with
the fine sand prepared for the purpose, taking care to have lowered at
stated intervals quantities of the store of dynamite, so as to be ready
for the final explosion.  He had under his immediate supervision a corps
of workmen, and was assisted by Sir Nathaniel, who had come over for the
purpose, and all were now staying at Lesser Hill.

Mr. Salton, too, showed much interest in the job, and was constantly
coming in and out, nothing escaping his observation.

Since her marriage to Adam and their coming to stay at Doom Tower, Mimi
had been fettered by fear of the horrible monster at Diana's Grove.  But
now she dreaded it no longer.  She accepted the fact of its assuming at
will the form of Lady Arabella.  She had still to tax and upbraid her for
her part in the unhappiness which had been wrought on Lilla, and for her
share in causing her death.

One evening, when Mimi entered her own room, she went to the window and
threw an eager look round the whole circle of sight.  A single glance
satisfied her that the White Worm in _propria persona_ was not visible.
So she sat down in the window-seat and enjoyed the pleasure of a full
view, from which she had been so long cut off.  The maid who waited on
her had told her that Mr. Salton had not yet returned home, so she felt
free to enjoy the luxury of peace and quiet.

As she looked out of the window, she saw something thin and white move
along the avenue.  She thought she recognised the figure of Lady
Arabella, and instinctively drew back behind the curtain.  When she had
ascertained, by peeping out several times, that the lady had not seen
her, she watched more carefully, all her instinctive hatred flooding back
at the sight of her.  Lady Arabella was moving swiftly and stealthily,
looking back and around her at intervals, as if she feared to be
followed.  This gave Mimi an idea that she was up to no good, so she
determined to seize the occasion for watching her in more detail.

Hastily putting on a dark cloak and hat, she ran downstairs and out into
the avenue.  Lady Arabella had moved, but the sheen of her white dress
was still to be seen among the young oaks around the gateway.  Keeping in
shadow, Mimi followed, taking care not to come so close as to awake the
other's suspicion, and watched her quarry pass along the road in the
direction of Castra Regis.

She followed on steadily through the gloom of the trees, depending on the
glint of the white dress to keep her right.  The wood began to thicken,
and presently, when the road widened and the trees grew farther back, she
lost sight of any indication of her whereabouts.  Under the present
conditions it was impossible for her to do any more, so, after waiting
for a while, still hidden in the shadow to see if she could catch another
glimpse of the white frock, she determined to go on slowly towards Castra
Regis, and trust to the chapter of accidents to pick up the trail again.
She went on slowly, taking advantage of every obstacle and shadow to keep
herself concealed.

At last she entered on the grounds of the Castle, at a spot from which
the windows of the turret were dimly visible, without having seen again
any sign of Lady Arabella.

Meanwhile, during most of the time that Mimi Salton had been moving
warily along in the gloom, she was in reality being followed by Lady
Arabella, who had caught sight of her leaving the house and had never
again lost touch with her.  It was a case of the hunter being hunted.  For