He took it and cast it back to me in abhorrence and contempt, with all the strength he could muster.

It wanted but this to fill the measure of his offences.

With execrations not loud but deep I left him to live or die as he could, well satisfied that I had done my duty in attempting to save him--but forgetting how I had erred in bringing him into such a condition, and how insultingly my after-services had been offered--and sullenly prepared to meet the consequences if he should choose to say I had attempted to murder him--which I thought not unlikely, as it seemed probable he was actuated by such spiteful motives in so perseveringly refusing my assistance.
Having remounted my horse, I just looked back to see how he was getting on, before I rode away.

He had risen from the ground, and grasping his pony's mane, was attempting to resume his seat in the saddle; but scarcely had he put his foot in the stirrup, when a sickness or dizziness seemed to overpower him: he leant forward a moment, with his head drooped on the animal's back, and then made one more effort, which proving ineffectual, he sank back on the bank, where I left him, reposing his head on the oozy turf, and to all appearance, as calmly reclining as if he had been taking his rest on his sofa at home.
I ought to have helped him in spite of himself--to have bound up the wound he was unable to staunch, and insisted upon getting him on his horse and seeing him safe home; but, besides my bitter indignation against himself, there was the question what to say to his servants--and what to my own family.

Either I should have to acknowledge the deed, which would set me down as a madman, unless I acknowledged the motive too--and that seemed impossible--or I must get up a lie, which seemed equally out of the question--especially as Mr.Lawrence would probably reveal the whole truth, and thereby bring me to tenfold disgrace--unless I were villain enough, presuming on the absence of witnesses, to persist in my own version of the case, and make him out a still greater scoundrel than he was.