Her countenance became ghastly pale, and her frame was seized
with a tremor which she could hardly conceal. She would have been glad
to have shed tears, but tears were denied her. Except the Boxer's wife,
there was no one to whom she could disclose her misery; but alas! for
once, that amiable creature was incapable of affording her consolation.
She herself, felt distress resulting from both the challenge, and her
husband's jealousy, almost equal to that of Ellen.
"I know not how it is," said she, "but I cannot account for the interest
I feel in that young man. Yes, surely, it is natural, when we consider
that I owe my life to him. Still, independently of that, I never heard
his voice, that it did not fall upon my heart like the voice of a
friend. We must, if possible, change his mind,", she added, wiping away
her tears; "for I know that if he fights that terrible man, he will be
killed."
At Ellen's request, she consented to see Lamh Laudher, with a view of
entreating him, in her name, to decline the fight. Nor were her own
solicitations less urgent. With tears and grief which could not be
affected, she besought him not to rush upon certain death--said that
Ellen could not survive it--pleaded the claims of his aged parents,
and left no argument untouched that could apply to his situation and
conduct. Lamh Laudher, however, was inexorable, and she relinquished an
attempt that she felt to be ineffectual.
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