Pray leave the room, sir; I wonder how Mrs Forster can bear the sight of you!" Nicholas stated, and was about to throw in a detached word or two, by way of vindication, when a furious "Begone!" from his wife occasioned a precipitate retreat.
"We have all been consulting about this sad business, my dear Mrs Forster," commenced Miss Dragwell; "and after much consideration have hit upon the only plan by which you may escape the penalty of the law.
Yes, my dear ma'am," continued Miss Dragwell, in the most bland and affectionate voice, "it is unwise to conceal the truth from you; the depositions of my father and Mr Hilton, when they are called upon, will be such that 'Wilful Murder' must be returned, and you--( the young lady faltered, and put up her handkerchief)--you must inevitably be hanged!" "Hanged!" screamed Mrs Forster.
"Yes, hanged--'hanged by the neck until you are dead! and the Lord have mercy upon your soul! 'that will be your sentence," replied the young lady, sobbing;--"such an awful, such a disgraceful death for a woman too!" "O Lord, O Lord!" cried Mrs Forster, who was now really frightened.
"What will become of me ?" "You will go to another and a better world, as my papa says in his sermons; I believe that the pain is not very great--but the disgrace--" Mrs Forster burst into tears.

"Save me! save me, Miss Dragwell!--Oh! Oh! that stupid Nicholas, Oh! Oh!" "My dear Mrs Forster, we have all agreed at the parsonage that there is but one method." "Name it, my dear Miss Dragwell, name it!" cried Mrs Forster, imploringly.
"You must pretend to be mad, and then there will be a verdict of insanity; but you must carry it through everything, or it will be thought you are shamming.

Mr Ramsden is acquainted with Dr B--, who has charge of the asylum at D--.

It is only nine miles off: he will take you there, and when the coroner's inquest is over you can return.

It will be supposed then to have been only temporary derangement.