And for myself,' she cried, clasping her hands, and looking upward, 'I swear before Him, as He knows my heart and reads it now, that from that hour I will love and cherish you as I did of old, and watch you night and day in the short interval that will remain to us, and soothe you with my truest love and duty, and pray with you, that one threatening judgment may be arrested, and that our boy may be spared to bless God, in his poor way, in the free air and light!' He fell back and gazed at her while she poured out these words, as though he were for a moment awed by her manner, and knew not what to do.
But anger and fear soon got the mastery of him, and he spurned her from him.
'Begone!' he cried.

'Leave me! You plot, do you! You plot to get speech with me, and let them know I am the man they say I am.

A curse on you and on your boy.' 'On him the curse has already fallen,' she replied, wringing her hands.
'Let it fall heavier.

Let it fall on one and all.

I hate you both.