know you never
did. But if you ever did, my own Ellen, I do forgive you."
"But I murdered you--and that was because my brother said he would do
it--an' I got afraid, John, that he might do you harm, an' afraid to
tell you too--an'--an' so you promise me you won't fight the Dead Boxer?
Thank God! thank God! then your blood will not be upon me!"
"Aunt, she's lost," he exclaimed; "the brain of my _colleen dhas_ is
turned!"
"John, won't you save me from the Dead Boxer? There's nobody able to do
it but you, Lamh Laudher Oge!"
"Aunt, aunt, my girl's destroyed," said John, "her heart's broke!
Ellen!"
"But to-morrow, John--to-morrow--sure yo' won't fight him
to-morrow?--if you do--if you do he'll kill you--an' 'twas I
that--that"----
O'Rorke had not thought of raising her from the posture in which
she addressed him, so completely had he been overcome by the frantic
vehemence of her manner. He now snatched her up, and placed her in the
little arm-chair alluded to; but she had scarcely been seated in it,
when her hands became clenched, her head sank, and the heavy burthen of
her sorrows was forgotten in a long fit of insensibility.
Lamh Laudher's distraction and alarm prevented him from rendering
her much assistance; but the aunt was more cool, and succeeded with
considerable difficulty in restoring her to life. The tears burst in
thick showers from her eyelids, she drew her breath vehemently and
rapidly, and, after looking wildly around her, indulged in that natural
grief which relieves the heart by tears.
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