I never meant to say anything.

If I hadn't promised her not to talk of him to you she wouldn't have let you come here.

She made me swear it." "But why?
Why?
Was he a shame?
Was he disgraced ?" "Maybe it was that unjust feeling that took possession of her when she couldn't help him from the swamp.

She had to blame some one, or go crazy, so she took it out on you.

At times, those first ten years, if I had talked to you, and you had repeated anything to her, she might have struck you too hard.