Sentence:  She imparted these stories gradually to Miss Crawley; gave her the whole benefit of them; felt it to be her bounden duty as a Christian woman and mother of a family to do so; had not the smallest remorse or compunction for the victim whom her tongue was <WSD>immolating</WSD>; nay, very likely thought her act was quite meritorious, and plumed herself upon her resolute manner of performing it. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  To destroy, especially by fire.