And he held out his hand to our love, who had been watching him all this time with eyes of stone; but now she turned her back upon him without a word. His face changed; the stormlight of passion and remorse played upon it for an instant; he made a step towards her, wheeled abruptly, and took me by the shoulder instead.
“Take care of her, Cole,” said he. “Whatever happens - take care of her.”
I caught him at the foot of the stairs. I do not defend what I did. But I had more ammunition; a few wadded
after it; I shall kill myself if I get no sleep. Do you hear, you woman? I shall kill myself in your house if I don’t get to sleep!”
I saw her shrink, virago as she was. I waved my arms, I shrieked in her face. It was not all acting. Heaven knows how true it was about the sleep. I was slowly dying