From one thing I went on to another, and
I knew nothing of what had been done until all was done. Some devil was
at my elbow--some devil at my heart. I feel it there still; I am not yet
free. I could do more--I could go yet farther. I could finish the damned
work by another crime; and no crime either, since I should be the only
victim, and well deserving a worse punishment."
The offender was deeply excited, and felt poignantly. For some time it
tasked all the powers of Ralph's mind, and the seductive blandishments
of the maiden herself, to allay the fever of his spirit; when, at
length, he was something restored, the dialogue was renewed by an
inquiry of the old lady as to the future destination of her anticipated
son-in-law, for whom, indeed, she entertained a genuine affection.
"And what is to be the end of all this, Mark? What is it your purpose to
do--where will you fly?"
"To the nation, mother--where else? I must fly somewhere--give myself up
to justice, or--" and he paused in the sentence so unpromisingly begun,
while his eyes rolled with unaccustomed terrors, and his voice grew
thick in his throat.
Pages:
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413