It was then I dressed him in my clothes, and dragged him down the back-stairs to the piece of water.

Do I remember listening to the bubbles that came rising up when I had rolled him in?
Do I remember wiping the water from my face, and because the body splashed it there, in its descent, feeling as if it MUST be blood?
'Did I go home when I had done?
And oh, my God! how long it took to do! Did I stand before my wife, and tell her?
Did I see her fall upon the ground; and, when I stooped to raise her, did she thrust me back with a force that cast me off as if I had been a child, staining the hand with which she clasped my wrist?
Is THAT fancy?
'Did she go down upon her knees, and call on Heaven to witness that she and her unborn child renounced me from that hour; and did she, in words so solemn that they turned me cold--me, fresh from the horrors my own hands had made--warn me to fly while there was time; for though she would be silent, being my wretched wife, she would not shelter me?
Did I go forth that night, abjured of God and man, and anchored deep in hell, to wander at my cable's length about the earth, and surely be drawn down at last ?' 'Why did you return?
said the blind man.
'Why is blood red?
I could no more help it, than I could live without breath.

I struggled against the impulse, but I was drawn back, through every difficult and adverse circumstance, as by a mighty engine.

Nothing could stop me.

The day and hour were none of my choice.