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bade her Die！
'It was done； upon a windy morning； before sunrise。 He computed
the time to be half…past four； but； his forgotten watch had run
down； and he could not be sure。 She had broken away from him in
the night； with loud and sudden cries … the first of that kind to
which she had given vent … and he had had to put his hands over her
mouth。 Since then； she had been quiet in the corner of the
paneling where she had sunk down； and he had left her； and had gone
back with his folded arms and his knitted forehead to his chair。
'Paler in the pale light； more colourless than ever in the leaden
dawn； he saw her coming； trailing herself along the floor towards
him … a white wreck of hair； and dress； and wild eyes； pushing
itself on by an irresolute and bending hand。
'〃O； forgive me！ I will do anything。 O； sir； pray tell me I may
live！〃
'〃Die！〃
'〃Are you so resolved？ Is there no hope for me？〃
'〃Die！〃
'Her large eyes strained themselves with wonder and fear； wonder
and fear changed to reproach； reproach to blank nothing。 It was
done。 He was not at first so sure it was done； but that the
morning sun was hanging jewels in her hair … he saw the diamond；
emerald； and ruby； glittering among it in little points； as he
stood looking down at her … when he lifted her and laid her on her
bed。
'She was soon laid in the ground。 And now they were all gone； and
he had compensated himself well。
'He had a mind to travel。 Not that he meant to waste his Money；
for he was a pinching man and liked his Money dearly （liked nothing
else； indeed）； but； that he had grown tired of the desolate house
and wished to turn his back upon it and have done with it。 But；
the house was worth Money； and Money must not be thrown away。 He
determined to sell it before he went。 That it might look the less
wretched and bring a better price； he hired some labourers to work
in the overgrown garden； to cut out the dead wood； trim the ivy
that drooped in heavy masses over the windows and gables； and clear
the walks in which the weeds were growing mid…leg high。
'He worked； himself； along with them。 He worked later than they
did； and； one evening at dusk； was left working alone； with his
bill…hook in his hand。 One autumn evening； when the Bride was five
weeks dead。
'〃It grows too dark to work longer；〃 he said to himself； 〃I must
give over for the night。〃
'He detested the house； and was loath to enter it。 He looked at
the dark porch waiting for him like a tomb； and felt that it was an
accursed house。 Near to the porch； and near to where he stood； was
a tree whose branches waved before the old bay…window of the
Bride's Chamber； where it had been done。 The tree swung suddenly；
and made him start。 It swung again； although the night was still。
Looking up into it； he saw a figure among the branches。
'It was the figure of a young man。 The face looked down； as his
looked up； the branches cracked and swayed； the figure rapidly
descended； and slid upon its feet before him。 A slender youth of
about her age； with long light brown hair。
'〃What thief are you？〃 he said； seizing the youth by the collar。
'The young man； in shaking himself free； swung him a blow with his
arm across the face and throat。 They closed； but the young man got
from him and stepped back； crying； with great eagerness and horror；
〃Don't touch me！ I would as lieve be touched by the Devil！〃
'He stood still； with his bill…hook in his hand； looking at the
young man。 For； the young man's look was the counterpart of her
last look； and he had not expected ever to see that again。
'〃I am no thief。 Even if I were； I would not have a coin of your
wealth； if it would buy me the Indies。 You murderer！〃
'〃What！〃
'〃I climbed it；〃 said the young man； pointing up into the tree；
〃for the first time； nigh four years ago。 I climbed it； to look at
her。 I saw her。 I spoke to her。 I have climbed it； many a time；
to watch and listen for her。 I was a boy； hidden among its leaves；
when from that bay…window she gave me this！〃
'He showed a tress of flaxen hair； tied with a mourning ribbon。
'〃Her life；〃 said the young man； 〃was a life of mourning。 She gave
me this； as a token of it； and a sign that she was dead to every
one but you。 If I had been older； if I had seen her sooner； I
might have saved her from you。 But； she was fast in the web when I
first climbed the tree； and what could I do then to break it！〃
'In saying those words； he burst into a fit of sobbing and crying：
weakly at first； then passionately。
'〃Murderer！ I climbed the tree on the night when you brought her
back。 I heard her； from the tree； speak of the Death…watch at the
door。 I was three times in the tree while you were shut up with
her； slowly killing her。 I saw her； from the tree； lie dead upon
her bed。 I have watched you； from the tree； for proofs and traces
of your guilt。 The manner of it； is a mystery to me yet； but I
will pursue you until you have rendered up your life to the
hangman。 You shall never； until then； be rid of me。 I loved her！
I can know no relenting towards you。 Murderer； I loved her！〃
'The youth was bare…headed； his hat having fluttered away in his
descent from the tree。 He moved towards the gate。 He had to pass
… Him … to get to it。 There was breadth for two old…fashioned
carriages abreast； and the youth's abhorrence； openly expressed in
every feature of his face and limb of his body； and very hard to
bear； had verge enough to keep itself at a distance in。 He （by
which I mean the other） had not stirred hand or foot； since he had
stood still to look at the boy。 He faced round； now； to follow him
with his eyes。 As the back of the bare light…brown head was turned
to him； he saw a red curve stretch from his hand to it。 He knew；
before he threw the bill…hook； where it had alighted … I say； had
alighted； and not； would alight； for； to his clear perception the
thing was done before he did it。 It cleft the head； and it
remained there； and the boy lay on his face。
'He buried the body in the night； at the foot of the tree。 As soon
as it was light in the morning； he worked at turning up all the
ground near the tree； and hacking and hewing at the neighbouring
bushes and undergrowth。 When the labourers came； there was nothing
suspicious； and nothing suspected。
'But； he had； in a moment； defeated all his precautions； and
destroyed the triumph of the scheme he had so long concerted； and
so successfully worked out。 He had got rid of the Bride； and had
acquired her fortune without endangering his life； but now； for a
death by which he had gained nothing； he had evermore to live with
a rope around his neck。
'Beyond this； he was chained to the house of gloom and horror；
which he could not endure。 Being afraid to sell it or to quit it；
lest discovery should be made； he was forced to live in