But, I now kneel to you--what I hardly ever did to God--an for his sake, for God's sake, I ask you; oh say, say that you did not kill the man in cowld blood; that's all! Make me sure of that, and I'm happy." "I think you're both mad," replied Donnel.

"Did I say that I was a murdherer?
Why didn't you hear me out ?" "You needn't," returned Nelly; "I knew it since yestherday mornin'." "So you think," he replied, "an' it's but nathural you should, I was at the place this day, and seen where you dug the _Casharrawan_.

I have been strugglin' for years to keep this saicret, an' now it must come out; but I'm not a murdherer." "What saicret, father, if you're not a murdherer ?" asked Sarah; "what saicret; but there is not murder on you; do you say that ?" "I do say it; there's neither blood nor murdher on my head! but I know who the murdherer is, an' I can keep the saicret no longer!" Sarah laughed, and her eyes sparkled up with singular vividness.
"That'll do," she exclaimed; "that'll do; all's right now; you're not a murdherer, you killed no man, aither in cowld blood or otherwise; ha! ha! you're a good father; you're a good father; I forgive you all now, all you ever did." Nelly stood contemplating her husband with a serious, firm, but dissatisfied look; her chin was supported upon her forefinger and thumb; and instead of seeming relieved by the disclosure she had just heard, which exonerated him from the charge of blood, she still kept her eyes riveted upon him with a stern and incredulous aspect.
"Spake out, then," she observed coolly, "an' tell us all, for I am not convinced." Sarah looked as if she would have sprang at her.
"You are not convinced," she exclaimed; "you are not convinced! Do you think he'd tell a lie on such a subject as this ?" But no sooner had she uttered the words than she started as if seized by a spasm.

"Ah, father," she exclaimed, "it's now your want of truth comes against you; but still, still I believe you." "Tell us all about it," said Nelly, coldly; "let us hear all." "But you both promise solemnly, in the sight of God, never to breathe this to a human being till I give yez lave." "We do; we do," replied Sarah; "in the sight of God, we do." "You don't spake," said he, addressing Nelly.
"I promise it." "In the sight of God ?" he added, "for I know you." "Ay." said she, "in the sight of God, since you must have it so." "Well, then," said he, "the common report is right; the man that murdhered him is Condy Dalton.

I have kept it in till I can bear it no longer.