And if the old man should happen to die in her house or farmyard! The consequences in that case might be very serious.

Not only might she lose everything, but she might even be dragged to prison.

At the sight of these dangers the old woman forgets her tender-heartedness, and becomes inexorable.

The old man, sick unto death though he be, must leave the premises instantly.
Knowing full well that he will nowhere find a refuge, he walks forth into the cold, dark, stormy night, and next morning a dead body is found at a short distance from the village.
Why this story, which was not strikingly remarkable for artistic merit, impressed me so deeply I cannot say.

Perhaps it was because I was myself ill at the time, and imagined how terrible it would be to be turned out on the muddy road on a cold, wet October night.