It was not
her husband but her conscience that forced her to this retributive
act. What Mr. Jeffrey might have done had she proved obdurate and
blind to the enormity of her own guilt, I do not know. But that he
is innocent of so influencing her is proved by the shock he suffered
at finding she had taken her punishment into her own hands."
"Mr. Jeffrey will please answer the question," insisted the major.
Whereupon the latter, with great effort, but with the first
appearance of real candor yet seen in him, said earnestly:
"I did nothing to influence her. I was in no condition to do so.
I was benumbed - dead. When first she told me, - it was in some
words muttered in her sleep - I thought she was laboring under some
fearful nightmare; but when she persisted, and I questioned her,
and found the horror true, I was like a man turned instantly into
stone, save for one intolerable throb within. I am still so;
everything passes by me like a dream. She was so young, seemingly
so innocent and light-hearted. I loved her! Gentlemen, you have
thought me guilty of my wife's death, - this young fairy-like
creature to whom I ascribed all the virtues! and I was willing,
willing that you should think so, willing even to face the distrust
and opprobrium of the whole world, - and so was her sister, the
noble woman whom you see before you - rather than that the full
horror of her crime should be known and a name so dear be given up
to execration.
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