He had never seen any woman weep like that before.

The anguish of it went through his heart.
He moved at length, laid a very gentle hand upon her shaking shoulder.
"My girl--my girl!" he said.

"Don't take on so! I never thought as you cared a ha'p'orth for poor Rufus, though o' course I always knew as he loved you like mad." She bowed herself lower under his hand.

"And now I've killed him!" she gasped forth inarticulately.

"I've killed him!" "No, no, no!" protested Adam.